Hawaiߵi state officials released the Lahaina Fire Forward-Looking Report (Phase Three), an independent report conducted by the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes. Phase Three organizes the findings from the Lahaina Fire Comprehensive Timeline Report (Phase One) and Lahaina Fire Incident Analysis Report (Phase Two) and prioritizes a list of action items the state and all counties can use to make improvements to Hawaii’s future preparation for and response to wildfires, including recommendations on how to address each priority. The report also includes guidance for each county fire department to complete a Community Risk Assessment, Community Risk Reduction plan, and a Standards of Cover analysis. Each of these components are in progress and FSRI has provided the state and counties with guidance documents.

Among the most high priority items cited in Phase Three are staffing of an Office of the State Fire Marshal and engaging state agencies in addressing the Phase Two findings and recommendations. FSRI has also engaged with the Hawaiߵi Department of the Attorney General (DOAG) and Hawaiߵi Wildfire Management Organization to address the preparations needed for the Office of the State Fire Marshal to be effective as soon as possible. Lastly, the report includes a review of the fire codes and standards adoption and use processes for the County of Maui.

The Phase Three Report was commissioned by the DOAG as the last in a three-report series. Phase One, published on April 17, 2024, presents a chronology of events captured from an extensive data collection effort, resulting in more than 12,000 timeline entries. The report focuses on the time period beginning at 14:55 on August 8, 2023, and concludes at 08:30 on August 9, 2023, and includes the relevant events that occurred prior to, and during, this time, such as preparedness efforts, weather, and other fires occurring on Maui. Phase Two, published on September 13, 2024, and revised on October 2, 2024, presents relevant background information; discusses weather, fuel, and infrastructure conditions; describes communication, incident management, fire suppression, and evacuation efforts; and details the impact of the fire on Lahaina’s built environment.