‘Our risk is high,' fire experts warn as summer approaches
HONOLULU (KHON2) — As the wet season comes to an end, most of the state is already in some sort of drought.
Fire officials are encouraging residents to take action now to protect your home from wildfires.
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The National Weather Service said it expects drought conditions to persist and possibly intensify through the dry season.
'It means our risk is high,' said Elizabeth Pickett, co-executive director at Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization. 'And it means we get started as soon as possible to take action.'
The month of May is Wildfire Awareness Month, and Pickett along with the Honolulu Fire Department said now is the time to create a five-foot buffer around your home.
'Wildfires have become more frequent and intense,' said HFD Battalion Chief Pao-Chi Hwang. 'Our homes, our families and our way of life are at risk.'
BC Hwang said simple chores at home can make a big difference, like mowing the lawn to four inches or less, removing dry leaves and debris from gutters and from around the house and lanai.
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'Trim back trees so they don't touch or overhang on our roofs. These small actions can create a defensible space and protect homes and families,' BC Hwang added.
'Clear it, sweep it, rake it, remove anything that can catch fire,' Pickett added. 'Leaves, lumber, any debris because what you do in that zone could be the difference between whether or not a home survives.'
Emergency officials recommend having a to-go bag ready at all times as well as an evacuation plan with friends, family and neighbors.
Last month, scientists at the University of Hawaii launched a new wildfire map to show fire danger and ignition risks.
'Fire risk is essentially a result of the weather conditions, current and recent, and vegetation conditions,' explained Tom Giambelluca, a retired UH professor and leader of the Hawaiʻi Mesonet.
Mesonet are weather stations that are positioned across the state. To date, there are 65 in place and the goal is to have 110 set up. Mesonet measures all fire-related risks like the air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and rainfall totals then summarizes the daily risk.
One part of the map shows fire ignition probability. 'This tells you how prone an area is to a fire, it doesn't tell you a fire is going to happen,' Giambelluca added. He said most fires are human-caused so it is hard to predict when one will begin.He hopes in the future they will be able to provide data on which direction a fire will move so it can help first responders.
'It's science, best practice and replicable, whether it's a cracked tile on a roof or window or open vent, embers when we have these big fires and wind, embers get into the house we call that intrusion and it ignites carpets, couches and everything from inside out.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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