Understanding Wildfires in Hawaii, the Pacific, and Beyond
This is a small list of resources I have found for learning about wildfires both locally and from experts on the continental US. If you have others that you’ve found helpful, please email me (info@katerighter.com) and I’ll add it to the list.
Be Prepared
Website covering preparation, awareness, and how to get home assessments: https://www.hwmo.org/get-prepared-materials
Key things to consider: keeping an eye on drought conditions in your area, creating a defensible zone around your property if possible, having a plan of escape, and knowing the effect of winds on the spread of fires.
What’s your risk?
State-Wide Fire Risk Mapping: https://www.hwmo.org/wildfire-plans
Be sure to view the historical maps of wildfires to see the overall trends: https://www.hwmo.org/resource-library/state-of-hawaii-wildfire-history-map-2002-2012
Risk Factor: Find the risks to your neighborhood from climate change (dangers including fire):
https://riskfactor.com/
Public safety power outage maps from Hawaii electric: https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/safety-and-outages/wildfire-safety/public-safety-power-shutoff/psps-maps
Wildfire organizations
Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization
Website: https://www.hawaiiwildfire.org/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hawaiiwildfire
HWMO is the hub for wildfire prevention, mitigation, and planning activities in the Hawaii-Pacific region.
Pacific Fire Exchange
Website: https://pacificfireexchange.org/
PFX is the science communication arm of UH Mānoa and Hawai‘i Wildfire Management Organization. PFX (https://pacificfireexchange.org/) has the latest wildfire research from Hawai‘i to Saipan.
Articles and videos about wildfires in Hawaii
Article: Why Hawai‘i’s Wildfires Are Growing Bigger and More Intense
https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/wildfires-hawaii-invasive-plants-environmental-community-action/
The role of eucalyptus trees in Hawaii’s wildfires: https://renewrebuildhawaii.com/blog/2024/uhr3puy8dodbm8uf64dceeih6ju8ne
Article: Native seeds to help protect land https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2024/07/08/seeds-fight-against-wildfires/
An excellent webinar on the history and future of fire in Hawai’i by Clay Trauernicht via the Maui Nui Marine Resource Council: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tI1vQuaTWk
“Fire is the symptom of larger societal problems.”
“If you can get water to these places, you can do anything.”
Classroom Lesson Plan
Curriculum from Project Learning Tree on teaching about fire in the classroom: https://shop.plt.org/Shop/ProductDetails/nature-of-fire
Nature Journaling and Fire
Book links are affiliate links
Pyrosketchology by Miriam H Morrill
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pyrosketchology/
Packed full of information about how to closely observe and document the fire environment. Great details about the three main factors: weather, fuel, and landscape.
The Cold Canyon Fire Journals, by Robin Lee Carlson
Website: https://robinleecarlson.com/
A beautifully illustrated, carefully researched, and poetically described exploration of fire in California, told through two consecutive fires in Cold Canyon.
Trauma Informed Nature Journaling for Fire Workshop
Day 1: Miriam Morrill and Scott Amick https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ealz_hmduIA
Day 2: Jack Laws and Miriam Morrill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB7u_VwN1_E
Day 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR3_6RZfLSw
Recover Safely: Resources
Educate and protect yourself from post-fire toxins:
Website: https://theredguidetorecovery.com/dioxins-the-most-hazardous-substance-in-structure-fire-environments/
Wildfire can contaminate drinking water. Here is a resource for up to date information for Maui residents: https://www.wrrc.hawaii.edu/maui-post-fire-community-water-info-hub
Replace important documents lost in a fire (or other disaster): https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/how-to-replace-important-documents-access-financial-aid-after-disaster-lahaina-maui-fire
Environmental Restoration
The Kula Fire Restoration Project is a survivor-led effort to stabilize, protect, restore, and maintain the areas of Kula impacted in the August 2023 wildfire: https://www.kulacommunitywatershed.org
Treecovery: to provide trees for free for the people of Lāhainā and Kula that lost their trees in the August 8th, 2023 Maui wildfires. https://treecoveryhawaii.org/
Maui Recovers: https://www.mauirecovers.org/recover/revegetating-and-reforesting-lahaina-and-kula
Donate to support recovery efforts on Maui:
Maui Wildfire Resources: https://hawaiiactionstrategy.org/maui-wildfire-resources
Including a free PDF to a story for young children on Maui: “There Was A Fire”
- The Maui Food Bank is accepting monetary donations to help distribute food through their partnership with Maui VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) and other relief effort organizations, including the Hawaii Red Cross.
- Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii is providing free support online, by phone, and in person on Maui for pregnant and new moms, including medical support, diapers, wipes, and lactation consulting.