Maui Is Deploying Water Tanks Around The Island To Help Fight Fires – Honolulu Civil Beat

Report on Wildfire Mitigation and Community Resilience in Maui

Introduction: Enhancing Disaster Preparedness through Strategic Water Infrastructure

In response to escalating wildfire risks exacerbated by drought conditions and the spread of invasive grasses, the state of Hawaiʻi’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), in partnership with Maui County, has initiated a project to install a network of water tanks across Maui. This initiative is a critical step towards strengthening community resilience and protecting vital ecosystems, directly aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary objective is to provide firefighters with immediate and accessible water sources, thereby enhancing the speed and effectiveness of initial aerial attacks on wildfires. This proactive measure supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by making human settlements safer and more resilient to natural disasters.

Project Implementation and Strategy

Strategic Placement and Rationale

The project’s initial phase involved the installation of two tanks in a high-risk area in South Maui, near Māʻalaea. The selection of this and future sites is a strategic process guided by several key factors:

• Historical Fire Frequency: Locations are chosen based on their history of recurring wildfires.
• Water Scarcity: Areas lacking accessible natural water sources are prioritized to ensure operational readiness.
• Proximity to At-Risk Areas: Tanks are placed to minimize helicopter travel time between the water source and the fire, a critical factor in containing blazes.

This strategic deployment is a crucial climate adaptation measure, contributing to SDG 13 (Climate Action) by building resilience to climate-related hazards. The plan includes establishing 10 to 15 such sites across the island, including in Lahaina, Kīhei, and West Maui.

Technical Specifications and Budgetary Commitment

The infrastructure being deployed is varied to meet diverse operational needs, reflecting a significant investment in public safety and sustainable infrastructure.

1. Fixed Storage Tanks: The initial installation includes a 30,000-gallon storage tank and a 10,000-gallon helicopter dip tank, costing between $30,000 and $45,000.
2. Mobile Dip Tanks: Maui County has procured a 10,000-gallon rolling dip tank, with plans for additional units. These mobile assets offer flexibility, allowing for rapid deployment to incident sites as needed.
3. Increased Funding: The project is supported by a substantial increase in the Maui County Department of Fire and Public Safety’s budget, which has risen by over $25 million since the August 2023 wildfires. The 2026 equipment budget of $9.8 million is more than four times the 2023 allocation, demonstrating a strong commitment to enhancing disaster response capabilities.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

This initiative directly addresses Target 11.5, which aims to significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected by disasters, and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations. By pre-positioning water resources, the project enhances the capacity to protect lives, homes, and critical infrastructure from wildfires.

SDG 13: Climate Action

The project is a tangible example of strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards (Target 13.1). With nearly all of Maui experiencing drought, these tanks are a vital adaptation strategy to combat the increased frequency and intensity of wildfires driven by climate change.

SDG 15: Life on Land

By enabling faster fire suppression, this initiative helps protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems (Target 15.2). It is instrumental in safeguarding forests and biodiversity from the destructive impact of fire, preventing land degradation, and halting biodiversity loss (Target 15.5).

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The successful implementation of this project relies on a robust multi-stakeholder partnership between the state DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife and the Maui County Fire Department (Target 17.17). This collaboration ensures that resources are pooled, expertise is shared, and site selection is optimized for the greatest community and environmental benefit.

Community Impact and Future Outlook

Public Reception and Engagement

The initiative has been positively received by community leaders, including those involved in the Firewise USA program. Residents view the visible installation of firefighting infrastructure as a reassuring measure that enhances their sense of security and peace of mind. Community leaders emphasize that such proactive efforts are critical components of a comprehensive wildfire response strategy, making firefighting operations more efficient and effective.

Future Expansion and Long-Term Vision

The installation of water tanks is an ongoing effort designed to complement the Maui Fire Department’s existing robust inventory of portable tanks. The long-term vision is to create a comprehensive and resilient network of fixed and mobile water sources across the island. This will ensure that firefighting crews have the necessary resources to respond swiftly and effectively to wildfires, thereby safeguarding Maui’s communities and natural environments for a sustainable future.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article focuses on enhancing the safety and resilience of communities in Maui against wildfires. The installation of water tanks is a direct measure to protect human settlements and infrastructure from natural disasters.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article addresses the need to combat climate-related hazards. Wildfires and drought conditions, which are exacerbated by climate change, are the central problems being tackled. The initiative described is an adaptation strategy to strengthen resilience against these disasters.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The article mentions that the Maui Fire Department responded to “more than 200 forest and brush fires.” The effort to improve firefighting capabilities directly contributes to protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halting biodiversity loss by preventing the spread of destructive wildfires.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The article highlights the challenge of water scarcity, noting that “Nearly all of Maui is experiencing drought conditions” and that tanks are being placed in areas that “lack accessible water sources.” The project represents a form of water resource management aimed at ensuring water availability for a critical purpose (firefighting) in a water-scarce environment.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 11.5: “By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses… caused by disasters…” The entire initiative of installing water tanks is aimed at mitigating the impact of wildfire disasters on the community, thereby reducing potential losses of life, property, and economic stability. The article states the goal is to “improve firefighting capabilities” to make the response “much quicker.”
• Target 13.1: “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.” The installation of water tanks in “10 to 15 locations prone to wildfires” is a clear action to strengthen Maui’s resilience and adaptive capacity to wildfires, which are identified as a recurring and significant climate-related hazard.
• Target 15.2: “By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.” By enabling a faster and more effective response to “forest and brush fires,” the project helps protect forest ecosystems from destruction, which is a key aspect of sustainable forest management.
• Target 6.4: “By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity…” The article explains that the tanks make firefighting “more efficient, and therefore more effective” by providing a ready and close water source, which is critical in a region where “Nearly all of Maui is experiencing drought conditions.” This represents an increase in water-use efficiency during emergency responses.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of disaster risk reduction infrastructure units installed: The article explicitly states the plan is to install water tanks in “10 to 15 locations.” The installation of the first “30,000-gallon storage tank and 10,000-gallon helicopter dip tank” serves as a direct indicator of progress in implementing this disaster risk reduction strategy.
• Financial resources allocated to disaster risk reduction: The article provides specific figures, stating that the county’s Department of Fire and Public Safety budget has “risen more than $25 million since the Aug. 8, 2023 wildfires” and the “2026 equipment budget… is $9.8 million — up more than fourfold from 2023.” This quantifies the financial commitment to strengthening resilience.
• Emergency response time: The article implies that a key metric for success is the reduction in helicopter “turnaround time.” Assistant Chief Alexander Parker is quoted saying, “A lot of times, the success or failure of an operation — when it comes to helicopters — is turnaround time.” Measuring this time before and after the tank installations would be a direct indicator of increased effectiveness.
• Number and scale of wildfires: The article provides baseline data that the “Maui Fire Department responded to 555 blazes, including more than 200 forest and brush fires, between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30 this year.” A reduction in the area burned by future fires could serve as an indicator of the initiative’s success in protecting communities and ecosystems.

Summary Table

Source: civilbeat.org