After Lahaina fire, Hawaii residents address their risk by becoming ‘Firewise’
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In June, neighbors and volunteers spent four weekends clearing rubbish from their properties in a community-wide effort to or areas around homes free of ignitable vegetation and debris. They purged 12 tons of waste.
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Kahikinui is one of dozens of Hawaii communities seeking ways to protect themselves as decades of , urban development, and detrimental land use policies .
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HWMO helps communities like Kahikinui become Firewise. In the 10 years preceding the , 15 Hawaii communities joined Firewise USA. Since then, the number has more than doubled to 31, with a dozen more in the process of joining.
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The solutions don't always require expensive retrofits like a whole new roof, but targeting the specific places within 100 feet of the house where embers could ignite material. In dense neighborhoods, that requires residents work together, making community-wide efforts like Firewise important. "The house is only as ignition resistant as its neighbors," said Cohen.
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