Wildfire Leaves Oahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge with Charred Trees, Several Bald Spots

A raging wildfire has swept through sections of the formerly verdant Oahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge in Hawaii, scorching trees and leaving numerous areas devoid of vegetation.

Wildfire in Oahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge, Hawaii

A Hawaii rainforest wildfire reveals a harsh reality for the lush state, post a neighboring island's devastating blaze. While Oahu's fire spared lives and homes, it wiped out patches of vital native forestland, housing delicate species. Echoing Maui's Lahaina, climate change-induced drought now triggers fires in unexpected Hawaiian locales. JC Watson, Koolau Mountains Watershed Partnership manager, mourns a lost native forest with uluhe fern and koa trees, vital for canoes and instruments.

Though not a clean burn, the area now resembles a moonscape. Highlighting a potential shift, Sam 'Ohu Gon III of The Nature Conservancy points to the fire on Oahu's wetter side as a noteworthy indicator of substantial change.

Since the year 2000, the northern Ko'olau Mountains have held a designation under the National Wildlife Refuge System, playing a vital role in safeguarding Oahu's last untouched native forests. This protection ensures the survival of endangered wildlife and maintains the diversity of native species.

Charred Trees, Bald Patches, and 22 Endangered Species

The Oahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge, home to 22 endangered or threatened species, including iiwi birds, elepaio birds, the pupu kani oe tree snail, and the Hawaiian hoary bat, faced a devastating fire. The fire, which started on October 30, scorched 2.5 square miles and was 90% contained by Friday. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is assessing the impact on plants and wildlife. The burned landscape revealed dark bald patches and charred trees amidst lush greenery.

Though smaller than mainland wildfires, Hawaii's compact ecosystems, especially on islands like Oahu, suffer profound consequences from limited fires. A major concern is the replacement of native forests with non-native, fire-prone plants, as Hawaii's native flora did not evolve with regular fires. Previous fires near Oahu resulted in invasive grasses and slow-growing koa replacing native ferns and trees.

Previous Oahu Wildfires

In 2016, a larger fire in Oahu's Waianae mountains eradicated one of the last populations of a rare tree, a significant loss noted by Gon. Beyond ecological impacts, native forest fires entail cultural losses; Gon recounted a Central Oahu tale of a warrior saved by an ohia tree during battle. Hawaii's forest birds, once a source for chief's cloaks, add to the cultural heritage affected.

Coordinating with the Fish and Wildlife Service, Watson's organization plans surveys and a restoration initiative involving invasive species control and native plant reintroduction. However, Watson acknowledges the irreversible change, stating it can never fully return to its former state in this lifetime. The Mililani Mauka fire, named after its origin, burned in the Koolau mountains, experiencing heightened dryness due to prolonged drought, indicating a potential rise in future Koolau fires.

Uptick in Wildfires

In the past decade, there's been a significant increase in wildfires, particularly in Hawaii's drier Waianae range. Surprisingly, even the typically wet areas of the island are now experiencing fires. Fires are typically triggered by human activities, underscoring the importance of heightened awareness and prevention measures. Gon suggests safeguarding native forests with buffer zones by planting less flammable vegetation in former sugarcane and pineapple plantation lands.

Many fallow fields now host dry, invasive grasses, which contributed to the destructive Lahaina blaze in August. The cause is under investigation, but downed power lines and dry grass may be factors, exacerbated by winds from a nearby hurricane.

Impact of Wildfire on Oahu

The Oahu fire poses a threat to the island's water supplybecause Oahu relies on aquifers, with native forests crucial for rain absorption.

With the decline of the high-quality forest, the effect on water recharge remains uncertain. Authorities are pursuing funding for firefighting equipment, firebreaks, water resources, the replanting of native plants, and the storage of seeds. Though recent rain and firefighters contained the blaze, Gon urges preventative measures to prevent yearly fires from eroding the vital water source.