After Fumbling Fire Priorities Last Year, Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Make Amends

By Thomas Heaton for Honolulu Civil Beat

This year, the Legislature passed House Bill 1064, which included the revitalization of the Office of the State Fire Marshal and other measures to address shortcomings identified by the Attorney General’s Office in January, in the last of its post-fire reports. 

Hawaiʻi has thrown money at additional fire prevention efforts, including better wildfire forecasting and increased funding for the state wildland firefighting crews, among other things. But much of the prevention work like that needed on the west side of Oʻahu will fall to the future Hawaiʻi state fire marshal, a role expected to be filled some time next month.

Click here to read the full story in the May 26 Honolulu Civil Beat.