‘Recipe for fires’: Invasive plants fueling Maui blazes, experts say

[volsrock]

Invasive highly flammable grasses in Hawaii have been key to fueling the deadliest wildfires in the US in more than 100 years, experts say.

While factors such as extreme weather events from climate change and the state’s local power grid have been blamed for helping to cause the blaze, large plots of land in Hawaii have been overrun by volatile non-native fire-prone grasses that are fueling the deadly flames, according to experts.

Land that was once occupied by irrigated pineapples and sugar cane was taken over by the grass species as those businesses began to decline, according to Elizabeth Pickett, the co-executive director of the Hawaii Wildlife Management Organization.

“The problem is at such a large scale, 26% of our state is now invaded by these grasses,” Pickett told The Associate Press.

https://nypost.com/2023/08/14/invasive-plants-fueling-maui-wildfires-experts/



How invasive plants caused the Maui fires to rage

When Hawaii’s last sugar cane plantation shut down in Maui in 2016, it marked the end of an era when sugar reigned supreme in the archipelago’s economy. But the last harvest at the 36,000-acre plantation underscored another pivotal shift: the relentless spread of extremely flammable, nonnative grasses on idled lands where cash crops once flourished.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/n...0230814-2n4yhnpqgjdpnc7mtmeyscbmyy-story.html


And they knew of this problem in 2018 and did nothing!


Why Hawai‘i’s Wildfires Are Growing Bigger and More Intense


https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/wildfires-hawaii-invasive-plants-environmental-community-action/


This could have been prevented

 

[Nordberg]

In fact, the causes are unknown. But it is no shocker that you would find something other than the long-term drought and high winds. You are so predictable.

 

[evince]

He’s actually accidentally being pro restoration of natural species


It’s all sciencey and I’m surprised he liked it


The big cause of the fire was GW warming causing chaotic weather patterns


The high winds from a near by storm effected the existing fires


What was the cause of these fires?


That’s another big part of this mystery


Was it some kind of industry?

 

[T. A. Gardner]

This is just ecological change over time. Honey bees are not indigenous to the Americas, nor are earthworms. They were imported on purpose or accidently centuries ago. Citrus trees are not indigenous to the Americas, just as corn isn't indigenous to Europe. Invasive species are part of nature, whether intended or not.

 

[T. A. Gardner]

The big cause of the fire was GW warming causing chaotic weather patterns

This statement is complete and utter bullshit. This fire had NOTHING to do with Gorebal Warming. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a completely oblivious retard.

 

[serendipity]

In fact, the causes are unknown. But it is no shocker that you would find something other than the long-term drought and high winds. You are so predictable.

It's you that are predictable, have you ever had an independent thought in your entire life?

 

[serendipity]

This statement is complete and utter bullshit. This fire had NOTHING to do with Gorebal Warming. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a completely oblivious retard.

Daesh is a walking talking bullshit spreader, it's truly shameful that someone can get to nearly 70 and be so fucking ignorant.

 

[volsrock]

The high winds from a near by storm effected the existing fires

So didnt have high winds 100 years ago?


191 MPH - Tropical Storm 1966....what caused that?

 

[Lightbringer]

In fact, the causes are unknown. But it is no shocker that you would find something other than the long-term drought and high winds. You are so predictable.

For a wildfire? The cause of a wildfire is unknown?

How much kool-aid can you drink?

 

[Hawkeye10]

Those in charge made zero effort...that is now fairly clear.

 

[Bigdog]

Those in charge made zero effort...that is now fairly clear.

Yep, thus the secrecy and lack of transparency from the government.

I understand that no one activated the siren warning system and there was little water in the hydrants.

 

[Bigdog]

This statement is complete and utter bullshit. This fire had NOTHING to do with Gorebal Warming. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a completely oblivious retard.

Agreed.

Tho I am skeptical about the "grasses" story.

for about the last 8 years, Maui has been struggling with a die off of fire-prone Eucalyptus trees; that's a lot more fuel than "grass" and a much more likely contributor, IMO.

I suspect the hidden truth is the failure to use the siren warming system, the lack of water pressure in the hydrants, and a poorly built or designed electric grid.

 

[Tinkerpeach]

No plant is native to Hawaii, they all came from somewhere else.

Remember that it started out as just a volcanic rock with nothing on it at one time.

 

[T. A. Gardner]

Agreed.

Tho I am skeptical about the "grasses" story.

for about the last 8 years, Maui has been struggling with a die off of fire-prone Eucalyptus trees; that's a lot more fuel than "grass" and a much more likely contributor, IMO.

I suspect the hidden truth is the failure to use the siren warming system, the lack of water pressure in the hydrants, and a poorly built or designed electric grid.

Oh, I can see the non-native plants thing. Here in Arizona the big culprit is Buffel grass

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cenchrus_ciliaris

https://noahlangphotography.com/blog/non-native-invasive-hawaiian-plant-guide

Buffel grass dries out in the summer and it is a major fire hazard for quick moving brush fires. I can see some of the non-native grasses in Hawaii being the same thing.

 

[Hawkeye10]

There is no way that the people who run the state could not have known that the fire risk was rising by the year.

"The problem was well known, but nothing was ever done" is the motto of failed modern America.

Buckle Up.

 

[Nordberg]

For a wildfire? The cause of a wildfire is unknown?

How much kool-aid can you drink?

They can be caused by lightning. They can be caused by Volcanos. They can be caused by Arson. They can be caused by cigarettes thrown out a window. They can be caused by not extinguishing a campfire well enough. You rightys are working without fuel.

 

[Bigdog]

Oh, I can see the non-native plants thing. Here in Arizona the big culprit is Buffel grass

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cenchrus_ciliaris

https://noahlangphotography.com/blog/non-native-invasive-hawaiian-plant-guide

Buffel grass dries out in the summer and it is a major fire hazard for quick moving brush fires. I can see some of the non-native grasses in Hawaii being the same thing.

Ok, but the eucalyptus trees are non native, too. One can argue that all life on Hawaii is non native. The eucalyptus have been dying in the recent decade because of a couple of newly introduced insects.

Grass fires move fast and die fast.

 

[ExpressLane]

Invasive highly flammable grasses in Hawaii have been key to fueling the deadliest wildfires in the US in more than 100 years, experts say.

While factors such as extreme weather events from climate change and the state’s local power grid have been blamed for helping to cause the blaze, large plots of land in Hawaii have been overrun by volatile non-native fire-prone grasses that are fueling the deadly flames, according to experts.

Land that was once occupied by irrigated pineapples and sugar cane was taken over by the grass species as those businesses began to decline, according to Elizabeth Pickett, the co-executive director of the Hawaii Wildlife Management Organization.

“The problem is at such a large scale, 26% of our state is now invaded by these grasses,” Pickett told The Associate Press.

https://nypost.com/2023/08/14/invasive-plants-fueling-maui-wildfires-experts/



How invasive plants caused the Maui fires to rage

When Hawaii’s last sugar cane plantation shut down in Maui in 2016, it marked the end of an era when sugar reigned supreme in the archipelago’s economy. But the last harvest at the 36,000-acre plantation underscored another pivotal shift: the relentless spread of extremely flammable, nonnative grasses on idled lands where cash crops once flourished.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/n...0230814-2n4yhnpqgjdpnc7mtmeyscbmyy-story.html


And they knew of this problem in 2018 and did nothing!


Why Hawai‘i’s Wildfires Are Growing Bigger and More Intense


https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/wildfires-hawaii-invasive-plants-environmental-community-action/


This could have been prevented

But they blamed climate change.....

 

[ExpressLane]

For a wildfire? The cause of a wildfire is unknown?

How much kool-aid can you drink?

1st reported Maui fire may have been caused by damaged power lines, independent report claims

"It's windy, and then there's a flash, and I think that's when a tree is falling on a power line," Jennifer Pribble, a senior research coordinator at the Conservation Center, said in the video that was later released. "The power goes out, our generator kicks on, the camera comes back online, and then the forest is on fire."

https://abcnews.go.com/US/1st-reported-maui-fire-caused-damaged-power-lines/story?id=102326367

 

[Tinkerpeach]

Ok, but the eucalyptus trees are non native, too. One can argue that all life on Hawaii is non native. The eucalyptus have been dying in the recent decade because of a couple of newly introduced insects.

Grass fires move fast and die fast.

Correct, there are no plants native to Hawaii.