Hawaiʻi Hires State Fire Marshal and Moves Forward With Recommendations from Phase Three Report
Since the release of the Lahaina Fire Forward-Looking Report — the third and final report from the Maui wildfires analysis conducted by the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes — last January, the state of Hawaiʻi has taken decisive and meaningful steps to enhance wildfire safety and emergency response. In direct response to the report’s findings, the Hawaiʻi Attorney General’s office engaged the Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO) to lead the implementation of the report’s ten priority recommendations.
These efforts have already begun to reshape the state’s wildfire policy landscape. The most significant changes are reflected in Hawaiʻi's House Bill 1064 and Senate Bill 223, which together operationalize many of the report’s core recommendations. Less than two years after the devastating Lahaina fire, Hawaiʻi is demonstrating a strong commitment to resilience, safety, and proactive governance.
Establishment of the Office of the State Fire Marshal
One of the most urgent recommendations from the FSRI report was the creation of a centralized fire safety authority. In response, the state has established the Office of the State Fire Marshal, a major milestone in Hawaiʻi’s fire safety infrastructure. On June 2, Hawaiʻi Governor Josh Green announced the appointment of Dorothy Booth to the position, reviving an important public safety position that has been vacant for nearly five decades. The 1978 Hawaiʻi Session Laws Act 241 dissolved the original Office of the State Fire Marshal, shifting its functions to county-level administration in 1979.
House Bill 1064 outlines the responsibilities and support structures for this new office, emphasizing improved coordination between state agencies, local fire departments, and communities. The goal is to ensure a unified, efficient, and effective approach to wildfire preparedness and emergency response.
Wildfire Prevention and Forest Management Initiatives
Complementing this structural reform, Senate Bill 223 focuses on proactive wildfire prevention and land management, largely through programs under the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). This bill also empowers the State Fire Council to amend the State Fire Code to require property owners in high-risk areas to maintain fire breaks and engage in vegetation management. These measures are designed to reduce fuel loads and mitigate the spread of wildfires.
Together, these legislative actions reflect Hawaiʻi’s deep commitment to honoring the lives and communities impacted by the Lahaina tragedy. By transforming the emotional and physical toll of the disaster into forward-looking reforms grounded in expert research and analysis, the state is turning loss into lasting change. Informed by FSRI’s findings, the new policies prioritize prevention, coordination, and community risk reduction — helping ensure a safer, more resilient future for residents and visitors alike.
To mark this transition from investigation to implementation, the Hawaiʻi Attorney General’s office held a press conference on June 19. The event formally concluded the state’s independent analysis of the Lahaina fire and signaled the beginning of a new chapter in wildfire preparedness. Attorney General Anne Lopez highlighted the importance of accountability and action and FSRI Research Program Director Derek Alkonis presented the report’s key recommendations. Newly appointed State Fire Marshal Dori Booth and HWMO representatives then shared their strategy for putting those recommendations into practice, including the actions already taken. The event underscored the state’s commitment to transparency, collaboration, and long-term resilience.
Read the official press release from the State of Hawaiʻi for more details on the conclusion of the investigation and the handoff to State Fire Marshal Dori Booth and HWMO.
