Hawaiʻi is getting a state fire marshal for the first time in 46 years. Gov. Josh Green appointed Dori Booth to the position Monday.
The state fire marshal will be responsible for coordinating the state's fire prevention strategies and response. Hawaiʻi is the last state in the country to have this type of official.
“It’s an honor to step into this role at such a critical time for Hawaiʻi. The lessons from the Maui wildfires are still fresh, and our responsibility is clear: We must do everything in our power to prevent future tragedies. That means stronger coordination, smarter planning, and a relentless focus on community safety," Booth said in a statement.
Booth comes from the Sedona Fire District in Arizona, where she was division chief of community risk reduction. She was previously a deputy fire marshal with the Phoenix Fire Department.
Also a U.S. Army veteran, she served in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan, specializing in civil-military operations and infrastructure stability, according to the governor's press release.
"I’m committed to working with community members, county, state and federal partners — as well as our first responders — to build a fire protection system that reflects the strength and resilience of Hawaiʻi’s people," Booth continued.
Booth has a master’s degree in public safety leadership administration and a bachelor’s in sustainable tourism development and management, both from Arizona State University, according to a press release.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal was abolished in 1978, and the State Fire Council, which is composed of the county fire chiefs, has been trying to fill the role. However, Council Chair and Hawaiʻi County Fire Chief Kazuo Todd explained that it hasn't been enough.
"A lot of the issues at the state level have, in previous years, just kind of sat there and died and not gone anywhere because there hasn't been a champion at that level to see processes forward," he said.
"Ninety-nine percent of my time is basically trying to make sure that the Hawaiʻi Fire Department, for example, is being properly run," Todd said. "And then once a quarter, for half a day, all of our chief officers fly over and we sit down as the State Fire Council and we try to tackle things, but there's a limit to what can be done without having somebody working on problems 40 hours a week."
Todd added that about 15 people applied for the fire marshal position, but they did not want to make a decision until after the legislative session.
The Legislature created the Office of the State Fire Marshal last year, following the devastating 2023 Maui wildfires. But only $172,000 was budgeted to hire the fire marshal and one other staffer.
An independent report on the Maui wildfires warned that the funding would not be enough to adequately address the state's fire needs, so the Legislature passed a new bill this year and increased the office's budget to $2.2 million.
If the 2025 measure becomes law, the office will be placed within the state Department of Law Enforcement. The increased funding will pay for fire inspectors, investigators, a deputy fire marshal and operational costs.
The governor has until June 24 to notify the Legislature if he plans to veto any measures.
Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization Executive Director Elizabeth Pickett explained that the bill is a huge step forward for the state.
"We want public safety to be prioritized and by creating this office and making sure we have enforcement capacity and regulatory capacity, and program funds to do education and risk reduction activities on the ground," she said. "I think we can be proud that our Legislature got it right this time."
Pickett added that it also signifies a prioritization of fire management and prevention in the state.
"The fact that it's been prioritized is already a huge part of the battle that we never won in time for Lahaina," she said. " If that is one of the main things that has changed, it opens the doors for all the rest of the work that needs to be done. Now people are prioritizing it, and it's legislated, and there's a whole office focused on it, not just for wildfire, but for all the things. It already feels like we're on our way to something better."
Booth will also be tasked alongside the Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization with implementing 10 recommendations from the Fire Safety Research Institute Phase Two Report on the 2023 Maui Fires.
