EXCLUSIVE: Maui Wildfires Analyzed

On August 8, 2023, four wildfires broke out on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Erratic winds and challenging terrain made this fire impossible for firefighters to gain control. At the time of this recording, August 21, 2023, three of the four wildfires are still burning, fatalities have reached 114, and over 800 people are still missing. Reduced to ashes, the historic town of Lahaina now faces a challenging journey towards recovery.

In this week’s episode, Chief Bob Horton assumes the role of host, while our panelist Chief Jeff Buchanan welcomes three special guests to share their professional insight and expertise on the subject of catastrophic wildfires:

• Chief Jeff Murray: Retired Maui Fire Chief and WFCA representative for the State of Hawaii
• Chief Bob Roper: Retired Fire Chief from Ventura County, California, past Nevada District Forestry and WFCA Policy Advisor
• Grady Joseph: Previously served as Assistant Director of Recovery Operations and Logistics Management at the California Governors of Office Emergency Services; currently serves as WFCA Disaster Damage Assessment Lead