HR 163: REQUESTING THAT THE office of the state fire marshal and the state fire council CLEARLY DEFINE STAGES OF WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION AND RELATED EFFORTS in the hawaii state fire code.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THAT THE office of the state fire marshal and the state fire council CLEARLY DEFINE STAGES OF WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION AND RELATED EFFORTS in the hawaii state fire code.

     WHEREAS, some of our nation’s most devastating fires have been the result of lingering hotspots reigniting; and

WHEREAS, the Oakland Hills fire of 1991 which destroyed over 2,500 structures, the 2021 Boulder County fire which was the most destructive fire in Colorado’s history, and the 2023 Lahaina fire which was the deadliest fire in the United States in over a century, were each caused by the reignition of earlier, seemingly quelled blazes; and

WHEREAS, worsening drought conditions and more severe weather events associated with strong wind gusts intensify the risk of wildfire and increase the difficulty of firefighting efforts; and

     WHEREAS, having clear definitions related to wildfire stages when communicating with the public and for internal guidelines for fire operations and suppression actions, formal reporting, and fire safety regulations would allow for cohesion in understanding of terminology and the execution of appropriate protocols; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the State Fire Council work together to clearly define stages of wildfire suppression and related efforts in the Hawaii State Fire Code; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following terms are included in defined terminology: “uncontrolled”, “contained”, “controlled”, “extinguished”, and “fully extinguished”; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the definition of “fully extinguished” include the necessitation of constant monitoring to ensure the absence of hotspots or smoke for a minimum of forty-eight hours, and under red flag warning or drought conditions, ninety-six hours; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the State Fire Marshal, State Fire Council, county fire chiefs, each county’s Fire Prevention Bureau, President of the Hawaii State Senate, and Speaker of the Hawaii State House of Representatives.

Report Title: 

Wildfires; Terminology; Fire Code; Definitions

HOUSE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THAT THE HAWAII STATE FIRE CODE CLEARLY DEFINE STAGES OF WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION AND RELATED EFFORTS.

     WHEREAS, some of our nation’s most devastating fires have been the result of lingering hotspots reigniting; and

WHEREAS, the Oakland Hills fire of 1991 which destroyed over 2,500 structures, the 2021 Boulder County fire which was the most destructive fire in Colorado’s history, and the 2023 Lahaina fire which was the deadliest fire in the United States in over a century, were each caused by the reignition of earlier, seemingly quelled blazes; and

WHEREAS, worsening drought conditions and more severe weather events associated with strong wind gusts intensify the risk of wildfire and increase the difficulty of firefighting efforts; and

     WHEREAS, having clear definitions related to wildfire stages when communicating with the public and for internal guidelines for fire operations and suppression actions, formal reporting, and fire safety regulations would allow for cohesion in understanding of terminology and the execution of appropriate protocols; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Hawaii State Fire Code clearly define stages of wildfire suppression and related efforts; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following terms are included in defined terminology: “uncontrolled”, “contained”, “controlled”, “extinguished”, and “fully extinguished”; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the definition of “fully extinguished” include the necessitation of constant monitoring to ensure the absence of hotspots or smoke for a minimum of forty-eight hours, and under red flag warning or drought conditions, ninety-six hours; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the State Fire Marshal, State Fire Council, county fire chiefs, each county’s Fire Prevention Bureau, President of the Hawaii State Senate, and Speaker of the Hawaii State House of Representatives.

Report Title: 

Wildfires; Terminology; Fire Code; Definitions

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1593

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.R. No. 163

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred H.R. No. 163 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE HAWAII STATE FIRE CODE CLEARLY DEFINE STAGES OF WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION AND RELATED EFFORTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request that the Hawaii state fire code clearly define states of wildfire suppression and related efforts.

     Hawaiian Electric and five individuals provided testimony in support of this resolution.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that this resolution is requesting the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the State Fire Council to work together to clearly define stages of wildfire suppression and related efforts.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 163, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 163, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,