A Hawaiian company has alleged that the state's Commission on Water Resource Management delayed its request to divert water to help fight a wildfire on Maui last week. The company says that it requested the water on June 11, but the agency did not approve the request until several hours later, after consulting with local farmers.
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| The hall of historic Waiola Church in Lahaina and nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission are engulfed in flames along Wainee Street on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Matthew Thayer/The Maui News via AP) |
The company, West Maui Land Company, says that the delay in approving the request hampered firefighting efforts and allowed the fire to spread. The fire eventually burned more than 1,500 acres of land and destroyed several homes.
The Commission on Water Resource Management has not commented on the allegations.
The delay in approving the water request is the latest in a series of problems with the state's response to the Maui wildfires. The state has also been criticized for its slow response to evacuate residents and for its lack of communication with the public.
The wildfires have raised concerns about the state's preparedness for future wildfires. Hawaii is particularly vulnerable to wildfires due to its dry climate and abundance of vegetation.
The state has said that it is working to improve its wildfire preparedness, but it is unclear how long it will take to implement these changes. In the meantime, the wildfires have highlighted the need for better coordination between state agencies and local communities in responding to wildfires.
Here are some additional details about the allegations:
- The company says that it requested the water to fill its reservoirs, which could then be used to fight the fire.
- The agency says that it delayed approving the request because it needed to consult with local farmers to ensure that the water diversion would not impact their crops.
- The company says that the delay was unnecessary and that the fire could have been stopped sooner if the water had been available sooner.
The allegations are still under investigation. It is unclear whether the agency will be held accountable for the delay.
The delay in approving the water request is a reminder of the challenges of fighting wildfires in Hawaii. The state is facing a number of factors that make it difficult to control wildfires, including its dry climate, abundance of vegetation, and steep terrain.
The state is working to improve its wildfire preparedness, but it is a complex issue that will take time to address. In the meantime, the wildfires have highlighted the need for better coordination between state agencies and local communities in responding to wildfires.
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