First part of Hawaiis report on deadly Lahaina wildfire highlights communications failures, including a lack of emergency alerts [Video]

HONOLULU (KHNL/Gray News) – Phase one of the Hawaii attorney general’s sprawling, monthslong investigation into the Lahaina disaster doesn’t point fingers, but does point out communication failures, including a lack of emergency alerts for residents.

It also provides information that will be of use in the many lawsuits filed over the disaster. And it spotlights the heroism of the emergency responders on the ground trying to save lives.

The fire on Aug. 8, 2023, killed 101 people in Lahaina.

The starting point of the fire wasn’t expected to be in the report from the Fire Safety Research Institute, but the executive summary says, “The origin of the Lahaina fire can be traced back to (6:35 a.m.), when a fast-moving brush fire … ignited near Kuialua Street and Hookahua Place.”

The so-called “morning fire” was apparently caused by fallen electrical wires.