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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Sophie Kevany

Non-native grass species blamed for ferocity of Hawaii wildfires

A helicopter drops water on Maui’s wildfires last week
A helicopter drops water on Maui’s wildfires last week. Scientists say untamed grassland exacerbated the disaster. Photograph: Andrew Jackson/US Department of Defense/AFP/Getty Images

Scientists and academics say they have been warning for several years that invasive grasses covering a quarter of the Hawaii islands are a major fire risk.

Untamed grassland helped fuel the spread and intensity of last week’s deadly fires on the island of Maui, according to experts. The fires, which broke out last Tuesday, have killed at least 106 people and destroyed the island’s historic town of Lahaina.

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