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 or created yourself, please email me (info@katerighter.com) and I’ll add it to the list.
“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. HWMO is the hub for wildfire prevention, mitigation, and planning activities in the Hawaii-Pacific region. Go to https://www.hawaiiwildfire.org/ to get your home and landscape wildfire ready.”
Pacific Fire Exchange
Website: https://pacificfireexchange.org/
Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization
Website: https://www.hawaiiwildfire.org/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hawaiiwildfire
Article: Why Hawai‘i’s Wildfires Are Growing Bigger and More Intense
https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/wildfires-hawaii-invasive-plants-environmental-community-action/
A really good 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.”
Simple video explainer of the role of eucalyptus in the wildfires: https://www.instagram.com/p/CwYrme5Niwx/
Curriculum from Project Learning Tree on teaching about fire in the classroom: https://shop.plt.org/Shop/ProductDetails/nature-of-fire
What’s your risk?
Risk Factor: Find the risks to your neighborhood from climate change (dangers including fire):
https://riskfactor.com/
State-Wide Fire Risk Mapping: https://www.hawaiiwildfire.org/statewide-mapping-planning
Fire Risk Assessment easy to share state wide jpeg image: https://www.hawaiiwildfire.org/fire-resource-library-blog/communities-at-risk-state-map
How prepared is your neighborhood? Where have recent fires that have happened near you? https://bnhm-shiny.berkeley.edu/HWMO/?fbclid=IwAR2BZ-GPfW0S_Kk8Qy8iUn8zMEwAQf_026CUXczdpNfejzH49R5XIjjnOzA
Nature Journaling and Fire
Pyrosketchology by Miriam H Morrill
Website: https://www.pyrosketchology.com/
Note: Includes free pdf downloads of the first chapters of her book about how to nature journal the fire enviornment.
Robin Lee Carlson
Website: https://robinleecarlson.com/
Her book, The Cold Canyon Fire Journals, is a fully 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
Recovery Resources
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”
What to do before, during, and after a wildfire:
https://riskfactor.com/solutions/fire
Educate and protect yourself from post-fire toxins:
Website: https://theredguidetorecovery.com/dioxins-the-most-hazardous-substance-in-structure-fire-environments/
Post wildfire recovery, a personal story from a Maui girl who survived the 2018 Camp Fire
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@postfireadvise
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
Upcountry Strong: https://www.upcountrystrong.org/
Donate to support recovery efforts on Maui:
- 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.
- Maui Mutual Aid is collecting monetary donations to distribute to residents who have been displaced. All funds will be distributed as quickly as possible to vulnerable ‘Ohana in need, kupuna, persons with physical disabilities.
- 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.