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Hawaii's recent surge in wildfires is due to a combination of factors like dry and windy conditions, human activity, and invasive plant species. These fires have severe consequences, threatening lives, plants, animals, and infrastructure. The economic losses from the Lahaina and Kula wildfires are estimated to be around $4 to $6 billion. Hawaii is taking preventive measures such as increasing awareness, providing assistance to displaced residents, and controlled burns. The cleanup process is expected to take six months to a year, with waste being shipped to licensed disposal sites on the West Coast. The fires have also impacted the economy, with Maui losing $13 million per day in tourist revenue. The run-off and pollution from the fires are harming coral reefs. Different demographics are affected differently, with Lahaina being the hardest-hit area. The fires have left lasting damage on the environment and infrastructure, and efforts are being made to rebuild and rehabilitate. Donation Hello, and welcome back to Nature Unleashed, a podcast talking about natural disasters around the world. I'm your host, Amelia. And I'm your co-host, Jasper. Today, we will have an environmental scientist join us to talk about the wildfires in Hawaii and their impacts. Hawaii, known for its spectacular beaches, lush greenery, and volcanoes, is also prone to a critical natural disaster, wildfires. While they are not as common as in other parts of the world, Hawaii has recently seen a surge in these devastating fires. Maui was under a high level of drought this summer, making the area more prone to fires. The dry plants and vegetation combined with the drought conditions made the area a perfect environment for wildfires. A downed power line initiated the flames in early August. Today, we welcome our wildfire expert, Brenna. Thank you for being here. Thank you for having me. Let's talk about why Hawaii is prone to wildfires. Can you shed some light on the factors that make these beautiful islands susceptible to this threat? Of course. Hawaii's combination of lush vegetation, dry and windy conditions, and human activity create the perfect recipe for wildfires. The mix of native and invasive plant species also adds fuel to the fire, as well as some occasional volcanoes. Could you share some insight into some of the consequences of these wildfires? Absolutely. Wildfires in Hawaii have a big impact. They cause a threat to human lives, plants, and animals, as well as infrastructure. Over time, invasive and fire-prone grass species have spread over the area, and when a fire occurs, they have the potential to burn into native forests, replacing the wood with more grass. Continuous blocking off the soil causes significant post-fire erosion that chokes out coral, degrades ocean water, and has an impact on fisheries. Can you talk a little bit about the loss that communities in Hawaii have sustained? The recent Lahaina and Kula wildfires in Hawaii are believed to have caused $4 to $6 billion in economic losses, according to the global catastrophe risk modeling solutions company, Moody's RMS. What is Hawaii doing to prevent wildfires from happening again? Hawaii is doing as much as possible to prevent wildfires. This includes collaborative efforts with other communities to increase awareness about wildfire prevention and safety, providing money to displaced residents, and controlled burns to reduce excess vegetation. About how long does it take to clean up the remaining debris? Due to the mass destruction, it's estimated to take six months to a year to clean up the remaining debris, which weighs between 400,000 and 700,000 tons. How much do the damages cost? The monetary cost of the disaster totals $1 billion in cleanup costs and $5 to $6 billion in damage expenses. Where is all this waste going to go? Because Hawaii does not have any disposal sites that can handle the amount of waste, the hazardous items sent from these areas are being shipped to licensed disposal sites on the West Coast. As for further waste removal processes, once the EPA has finished their cleanup process, the Army Corps will arrive on the scene and use tools such as excavators, bulldozers, and dump trucks to remove larger debris, such as partially standing structures and trees. The economic situation in Hawaii is also a concerning matter. Because of the travel advisories still in place, Maui alone is losing $13 million per day in money they would have made from tourists. Another concern is aquatic life. Areas affected by the fire were very close to the ocean, meaning that the runoff and pollution are harming the coral reefs in the Pacific. It is expected that the fire debris from Lahana will have lasting impact on life forms in the ocean, seeing as how climate change and plastic pollution are impacting the coral reefs long before the fire. Brenda, how does this issue impact different demographics? Depending on people's access to resources, how significant the damage was, and where you are located, the impact can be much greater for different people. Some of the areas that are the highest risk include Makaha, Waianae, Lahana, and many other areas. According to official estimates, at least 80% of the town of Lahana on Maui has been damaged or destroyed by fire, making it the hardest-hit island in Hawaii. Over 800 Hawaiian citizens filed for unemployment following the disaster. These devastating wildfires happened in August 2023. How are things looking now as of October 2017? As for the environmental and infrastructural aspects, the coral reefs are getting better, but they're still not back to what they were. The fires have torn through vegetation and left toxic chemicals that likely are flushing to creeks and the ocean. As of right now, we aren't sure exactly how much damage has been done, but experts are worried about the impacts on native plants and animals that aren't adapted to survive fires. Because of the damage done to homes and buildings throughout the island, people are still doing as much as possible to build them back with the hopes that residents can move back into their homes as soon as possible. Tourism has also taken a toll since the fire. After first advising visitors to avoid the burn zones, state tourism authorities are now pleading with them to return, avoid the area, and contribute financially to Maui's recovery. While some resorts have dropped accommodation rates by 20% or are offering a fifth night free, most airlines have begun to offer hefty discounts. Today we met with a wildfire expert who was able to offer us information on the tragic Hawaii wildfire. We discussed the impacts of the fires from economic, environmental, and social perspectives. If you are looking for a way to contribute to the cleanup and rehabilitation efforts, some things you can do are donate food, money, or clothing. You can also volunteer to help these efforts or offer housing to those who are currently displaced. That's a wrap on this episode of Nature Unleashed. If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe, leave a review, and stay tuned for more episodes where we explore unique natural disasters around the world.