The surprising factor making Mauis wildfires worse maui hawaii wildfire

This week, wildfires have ripped through the island of Maui. Strong winds from a hurricane far offshore have helped fuel the fast-moving blazes, but there could be another culprit behind Hawaii’s wildfires: Grass, specifically Guinea Grass. In the mid-1800s, non-native Hawaiians brought it to the islands to feed their cattle, and in the decades since it has taken over, especially in abandoned sugar plantations. After rainfall, Guinea Grass grows incredibly fast; it can grow as quickly as six inches per day, and ultimately reach a height of 10 feet. During droughts, the dry stocks turn into fuel for what has become one of the deadliest wildfires in Hawaii’s history.