The Maui Police Department released a preliminary after-action report on its response to the deadly wildfires that occurred in August 2024. The fires were caused by severe weather and many of the victims were found along Kuhua Street, which is located in Lahaina district of the island on Aug. 8th, 2023.
The Maui Police Department has released a preliminary after-action report on its response to the deadly wildfires that occurred in August 2024. The fires were caused by severe weather and many of the victims were found along Kuhua Street, which is located in Lahaina district of the island on Aug. 8th, 2023.
The Lahaina Inferno killed 100 people on August 8, 2024.
Many of the victims were found along Kuhua Street in the city center.
A downed tree blocked a key exit route from Kuhua Street and made it difficult for residents to escape.
The fire claimed victims across more than two miles and possibly over many hours, including in neighborhoods that were already ablaze before evacuation alerts were issued.
Residents have described how they struggled to escape the fire due to blocked exit routes.
Officials provided a detailed timeline of the Lahaina Inferno in their report on August 8th.
The Maui Police Department's report revealed that key exit routes were blocked by downed power lines, trees and the raging fire itself.
Many deaths occurred due to smoke inhalation and burn injuries from being trapped inside homes or unable to escape through other means.
Survivors have reported hearing loud explosions during the fire which may have contributed to their confusion and difficulty escaping.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title of the article implies that it will provide a comprehensive review of the Lahaina Inferno when in fact it only provides information on where victims were found and not an actual review. Secondly, while stating that officials provided a detailed new report on the tragedy, they do not disclose any sources or provide evidence to support this claim. Thirdly, the article uses sensationalism by describing the fire as a
The majority of victims were found in Kuhua Street
Many deaths on one street Some of the fire's victims were found in neighborhoods that were already ablaze before evacuation alerts were issued.
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains several fallacies. The first is an appeal to authority when it states that the Maui Police Department report on the Aug. 8 disaster provides a detailed timeline of the fire and government response. This statement assumes that because it comes from an official source, it must be accurate without providing any evidence or context for its claims.
The article contains several fallacies.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains a large number of examples that demonstrate bias. The author uses language that dehumanizes the victims by referring to them as 'victims' rather than people who tragically lost their lives in a fire. Additionally, the author implies that there is some sort of moral failing on behalf of those who did not evacuate early enough or were unable to leave due to downed power lines and trees. This language creates an us-versus-them dynamic between those who 'failed' and those who 'succeeded', which is highly biased.
downloaded tree blocking the roadway
victims
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article discusses the Lahaina Inferno and its impact on the town of Lahaina, Hawaii. The authors have a financial interest in reporting on this topic as they are employed by The New York Times which has a stake in covering natural disasters such as wildfires.
The article discusses the economic impact of the fire on Maui County and its residents, including damage to businesses and homes. This is likely an area where The New York Times has financial interests as it may have advertisers or subscribers in this region.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii as they report on the deaths and destruction caused by the Aug. 8 wildfire.
100 victims were found
’a large number of victims died along‚a single street —
— a stark indication of the ferocity of the blaze that swept through historic island town, killing 100 people.
The wildfires on Maui in August were caused by severe weather and many roads became impassable.
Many of the victims were found along Kuhua Street in the city center.
Residents have described how they struggled to escape due to blocked exit routes.
<strong>Examples not included because they are also present in other sources:</strong>
Accuracy
The wind-fed blaze was the worst natural disaster in Hawaii's history
America's deadliest wildfire in over a century
the fifth deadliest in U.S. history.
<strong>Contradiction:</strong> The Lahaina Inferno killed 100 people on August 8, 2024.
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that the wind-fed blaze was the worst natural disaster in Hawaii's history and America's deadliest wildfire in over a century. However, this statement is not supported by any evidence or data provided in the article. Secondly, while it mentions that many of the already limited roads became impassable due to severe weather, it does not provide specific details on how this affected first responders' ability to reach and assist those affected by the wildfires. Lastly, while it quotes Maui Police Chief John Pelletier stating that they cannot control incidents but can control their responses in the aftermath, there is no evidence provided to support this claim.
The article states that 'the wind-fed blaze was the worst natural disaster in Hawaii's history and America's deadliest wildfire in over a century.' However, it does not provide any data or evidence to support this claim.
The article mentions that many of the already limited roads became impassable due to severe weather but does not provide specific details on how this affected first responders' ability to reach and assist those affected by the wildfires.
Manny and Claire Ceralde started renovations on their house to add two apartments. One was intended to be a rental property and the other for Claire's mother Revelina Tomboc and her sister Bibiana Lutriana.
Vanessa Keau went to check on her mother Gwendolyn Kanani Puou at a studio apartment rented by Manny's in-laws. She found no one there and prayed for her safety as she drove away.
Accuracy
The downed tree blocked a key exit route from Kuhua Street and made it difficult for residents to escape.
Many deaths occurred due to smoke inhalation and burn injuries from being trapped inside homes or unable to escape through other means.
Survivors have reported hearing loud explosions during the fire which may have contributed to their confusion and difficulty escaping.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses anecdotes to create a narrative about the events leading up to the fire and its aftermath. These anecdotes are used to illustrate points made by the author but do not necessarily support their claims or provide evidence for them.
The Ceraldes, who spoke to NBC News in a series of interviews in English and in their native Tagalog through a translator, said they had started permitted renovations on their house on Aki Street in 2022 to add two apartments. One was intended to be a rental property, and the other was for Claire’s mother, Revelina Tomboc, and her sister, Bibiana <bhing= Lutriana.
Around 6:30 p.m., Manny made it safely with his family to the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Kapalua, about 10 miles north, where he works busing tables in a restaurant. Cellphone service was down, so he couldn’t reach his wife.
Claire kept calling and texting as the days stretched into weeks and the rescue efforts turned into recovery missions. Relatives in the Philippines pressed Claire for information, but she had nothing to share.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains examples of religious bias and monetary bias. The author uses the phrase 'God's will' to describe the fire that destroyed Kuhua Camp ground zero, which implies a belief in divine intervention or punishment. Additionally, the Ceraldes were renting their house from someone else who was not affected by the fire, suggesting an unequal distribution of resources and wealth. The article also mentions that Manny had saved money for his family's safety during evacuations but forgot it when he left his home in a rush to escape the fire. This suggests a lack of financial stability or preparedness on their part, which could be seen as contributing to their misfortune.
Manny had saved money for his family's safety during evacuations but forgot it when he left his home in a rush to escape the fire
The author uses the phrase 'God's will' to describe the fire that destroyed Kuhua Camp ground zero
The Ceraldes were renting their house from someone else who was not affected by the fire
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article discusses the fire at Kuhua Camp in Lahaina, Hawaii and how it resulted in several deaths. The author mentions that they had started renovations on their house to add two apartments, one of which was intended to be a rental property for Claire Ceralde's mother Revelina Tomboc and her sister Bibiana Lutriana. However, the fire broke out while they were not home and it is unclear if they had any contact with Vanessa Keau or Gwendolyn Kanani Puou who also lived in the area.
The article mentions that Claire Ceralde kept calling her family for several weeks after the fire, but she had no information to share and was forced to split up with them. This suggests a potential conflict of interest as it is unclear if Claire had any financial or personal ties with her family members who were affected by the fire.
The article mentions that Manny Ceralde forgot his bag of cash and collectibles, but he remembered the importance of saving money for emergencies. This suggests a potential conflict of interest as it is unclear if Manny had any financial or personal ties to these items.
The article mentions that Manny Ceralde trusted firefighters to control the fire, but he heard sirens in the distance and saw dark plumes gathering above his neighborhood. This suggests a potential conflict of interest as it is unclear if Manny had any personal or professional ties with the firefighters.
Ensure all commanders participate in live training exercises
Direct the public to call a dedicated phone line other than 911 in case of disaster
Hire a social media manager to improve and speed up communications is one of the recommended actions.
Equip every supervisory police vehicle with a breaching kit to remove debris from roadways blocking any exit
Accuracy
The Maui Police Department's draft after-action report into the Lahaina wildfire includes 32 recommendations.
Ensure all commanders participate in live training exercises is another recommendation.
Direct the public to call a dedicated phone line other than 911 in case of disaster is also suggested.
Equip every supervisory police vehicle with a breaching kit to remove debris from roadways blocking any exit is recommended.
Evaluate the cost for expanded wi-fi and satellite connections to improve communications is another recommendation.
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title mentions 'after-action report' which implies that this is a review of what happened during the Lahaina wildfire and how it could have been better handled by MPD. However, upon reading further into the body of the article, it becomes clear that this is not an after-action report but rather recommendations for future actions to be taken in case another disaster like this happens again.
The author states 'MPD's after-action report is among a number of exhaustive probes into the wildfire disaster on Aug. 8 that claimed at least 100 lives.' However, upon reading further into the article, it becomes clear that MPD did not conduct an after-action report but rather recommendations for future actions to be taken in case another disaster like this happens again.
The title mentions 'after-action report' which implies a review of what happened during the Lahaina wildfire and how it could have been better handled by MPD. However, upon reading further into the body of the article, it becomes clear that this is not an after-action report but rather recommendations for future actions to be taken in case another disaster like this happens again.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that the Maui Police Department's after-action report is among a number of exhaustive probes into the wildfire disaster on Aug. 8 that claimed at least 100 lives.
>Hire a social media manager to improve and speed up communications.<br>Ensure all commanders participate in live training exercises.<br>Direct the public to call a dedicated phone line other than 911.<br>Equip every supervisory police vehicle with a breaching kit<br><b>
Bias
(85%)
The article contains a statement that implies the Maui Police Department is responsible for the Lahaina wildfire. This statement could be seen as an example of monetary bias because it suggests that money should have been spent on fire prevention rather than other areas.
> The 98-page report also includes an exhaustive timeline <br> based on interviews and body cam video <br> of the hours leading up to the wildfire and the hours, days and weeks that followed.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of Lahaina wildfire as they are part of the Maui Police Department (MPD) and were involved in responding to the incident. The article also mentions an after-action report by MPD which may contain information that could be considered biased.
The article states that 'Maui Police Department released preliminary findings from their After Action Report on Lahaina Wildfire.'
The author is part of the Maui Police Department and was involved in responding to the incident.
The Maui Police Department released a preliminary report on its response to the Lahaina wildfire.
Officers encountered significant challenges due to heavy smoke, decreasing visibility, and heavy traffic which had caused a gridlock during evacuation efforts.
Despite remaining questions and criticism over the cause of the fires, Maui Police Department's investigation solely focused on its response to them.
Accuracy
The police department determined that the flames were caused by severe weather and high winds.
Many deaths occurred due to smoke inhalation and burn injuries from being trapped inside homes or unable to escape through other means.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title mentions that Maui police released a report on their response to the wildfires but does not mention anything about what caused them or who may have exacerbated them. This implies that they are taking responsibility for their actions when in fact they did not cause it and cannot control its causes. Secondly, the article mentions several lawsuits filed against Maui police after the disaster left thousands of structures on the island leveled but does not mention anything about these lawsuits or what they claim. This implies that there is no accountability for those who may have caused or exacerbated the wildfires and that Maui police are being unfairly targeted. Thirdly, while it mentions several recommendations made by Maui Police Department in their response to the disaster, it does not mention anything about these recommendations or how they will be implemented. This implies that there is no accountability for those who caused or exacerbated the wildfires and that Maui police are being unfairly targeted.
The article mentions several lawsuits filed against Maui Police Department after the disaster left thousands of structures on the island leveled but does not mention anything about these lawsuits or what they claim. This implies that there is no accountability for those who may have caused or exacerbated the wildfires and that Maui police are being unfairly targeted.
The article mentions several recommendations made by Maui Police Department in their response to the disaster but does not mention anything about these recommendations or how they will be implemented. This implies that there is no accountability for those who caused or exacerbated the wildfires and that Maui police are being unfairly targeted.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses anecdotal evidence to make a generalization about the police department's response when they encountered significant challenges during the wildfire response. Additionally, there are instances where the author quotes people without providing context or clarification on their relationship with the events being discussed.
The fires spread rapidly across the island, fueled by high winds and dry vegetation.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains several examples of bias. The author uses language that dehumanizes the victims and downplays their suffering by referring to them as 'downright inhumane'. Additionally, the report is heavily focused on the police department's response rather than investigating further into what caused or exacerbated the fires. This suggests a lack of interest in holding those responsible accountable for their actions.
The author uses language that dehumanizes the victims and downplays their suffering by referring to them as 'downright inhumane'.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article reports on the Maui Police Department's response to a wildfire in Lahaina. The author of the report is John Pelletier, who has ties to both the Hawaii attorney general's office and Fire Safety Research Institute.
