evidence: Still, fire experts say Maui has a long way to go to reduce its wildfire risk, especially in adopting policies that other fire-prone states like California have. Of 50 recommendations made in a post-fire report from a Hawaii legislative working group, only a handful have been implemented so far. [...] At Maui’s fire department, fire chief Brad Ventura says those large unmanaged landscapes are a priority. Maui regularly sees brushfires break out, especially as droughts get more intense in a hotter climate. [...] Still, creating fuel breaks and defensible space can only go so far in Maui, where high winds are common. Most wildfires are spread by embers, small bits of burning debris that are carried by the wind. They can land miles from the wildfire itself, fueling its rapid growth.