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HB1419
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
1419
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to fire protection
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION 1.
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The legislature finds that some of our
nation's most devastating fires have been the result of lingering hotspots
reigniting, including the Oakland Hills fire of 1991 which destroyed more than
two thousand five hundred structures, the 2021 Boulder County fire which was
the most destructive in Colorado's history, and, the deadliest fire in the United
States in over a century, the 2023 Lahaina fire.
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While investigations are still underway,
evidence is increasingly pointing to the widespread California fires of January
2025 being caused by reignition of previous blazes that were not entirely
extinguished.
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The legislature further finds that
with worsening drought conditions and more severe weather events associated
with strong wind gusts, it is imperative that fires are monitored even
following initial control and apparent extinguishment actions to eliminate the
chances of reignition.
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Accordingly, the purpose of this Act
is to clearly define stages of wildfire suppression efforts.
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SECTION 2.
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Chapter 132, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:
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�132-
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Duty to address fire stages.
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When
discussing the status of fires with regards to public dissemination of
information, internal guidelines for fire operations and suppression actions,
formal reporting, and fire safety regulations, the county fire chiefs, state
fire marshal, and state fire council shall use the following terminology:
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(1)
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"Uncontrolled"
means any fire which threatens to destroy life, property, or natural resources,
and
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(A)
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Is
not burning within the confines of firebreaks, or
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(B)
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Is
burning with such intensity that it could not be readily extinguished with
ordinary tools commonly available.
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(2)
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"Containment"
means the status of a wildfire suppression action signifying that a control
line has been completed around the fire, and any associated spot fires, which
can reasonably be expected to stop the fire's spread.
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(3)
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"Controlled"
means the completion of the control line around a fire, any spot fires
therefrom, and any interior islands to be saved; burned out any unburned area
adjacent to the fire side of the control lines; and cooled down all hotspots
that are immediate threats to the control line, until the lines can reasonably
be expected to hold under the foreseeable condition.
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(4)
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"Extinguished"
means a previous fire where no hotspots or smoke are detected within the lines
for at least forty-eight hours and, under red flag warning or drought
conditions, ninety-six hours.
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SECTION 3.
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New statutory material is underscored.
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SECTION 4.
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This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Fire
Protection; Fire Status; Fire Operation; Definition
Description:
Defines
stages of wildfire suppression efforts.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.