HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Maui Wildfire Phase 2 report released on Friday by the state Attorney General’s office identified the major factors that led to the disaster and provided recommendations that can be immediately implemented.
Also included in the 500-page report were recorded interviews with County first responder personnel, directors, deputies and employees, which has Maui County attorneys furious, saying they were never told the interviews would be released to the public.
A recorded interview from Maui Fire Department Battalion Chief, Lee Theros, was one of about 150 technical interviews conducted by the Fire Safety Research Institute as part of their analysis of the Maui wildfire, with the recording available to the public.
During Friday’s news conference announcing the results of the report, the FSRI Research Program Manager said interviewees knew their recorded interviews would be made public.
“They knew these things were going to be used for the analysis. That was understood,” said Derek Alkonis, FSRI Research Program Manager.
Maui Corp Counsel Victoria Takeyasu disputes that statement to be untrue.
“Every one of those interviews that I personally attended, they did say they were being recorded. They did not say anything about these individuals having their name and content being publicly disclosed,” explained Takeyasu.
In a statement, the Department of the Attorney General said it stands by what was in the news conference and that “it was made clear from data one that this investigation would be transparent to the fullest extent possible” and that AG Anne Lopez has stated explicitly that documents, media materials and statements would be made public.
Lopez also stated the recordings are government records under Hawaii law and are subject to disclosure.
While the County said it agrees with the AG’s efforts for transparency and disclosure, they’re concerned about the trauma being inflicted on County personnel to have their stories shared without consent.
“They, you know, broke down and you know, really bared their souls. I don’t think it’s appropriate to now have that blasted out to the public,” Takeyasu added.
The County said that interviewees were not offered immunity from subsequent civil or criminal prosecution in exchange for their testimony. Maui County Special Counsel David Minkin said some are looking at legal representation.
Check out more news from around Hawaii
“We don’t know whether the County has what’s called standing to do anything about it, but the individuals most certainly do, and my understanding is some of them have already started talking to lawyers,” Minkin said.
To view the second phase of the “Lahaina Fire Incident Analysis Report,” click HERE.