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County officials discuss pursuing Wildland‑Urban Interface code, plan phased rollout and funding options
Summary
Maui Fire Department leaders and MEMA described early steps toward adopting the ICC Wildland‑Urban Interface (WUI) Code; the mayor approved seeking the code, and staff described a phased approach starting with new construction and exploring grant funding for retrofits.
Assistant Chief Ryan Otsubo and Fire Chief Bradford Ventura briefed the commission about outreach with the International Code Council and a potential county WUI Code to reduce ember ignitions and improve defensible space around homes. Chief Otsubo said the WUI Code addresses home hardening and ember resistance gaps that current brush‑clearance policies don’t cover, and the county plans to identify a defined WUI risk map and phase the code’s implementation.
Chief Ventura told commissioners the mayor has given early support for pursuing the WUI Code and that staff will next engage council and other partners to define the scope and timeline. He emphasized the county could start with new construction standards while seeking grant programs and retrofit incentives for existing homes. “One of the main things is that defensible space around your home,” Ventura said, urging a careful county definition of the WUI boundaries.
