Hawaii is most fire-prone U.S. state

Hawaii, perceived by the rest of the world as a tropical paradise, is becoming increasingly susceptible to natural disasters

NUMBER OF FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTERS IN HAWAII

Fire
Severe storm 
Flood 
Hurricane 
Other

15 13 11 9  7  5  3  1

1980- 1985- 1990- 1995 2000- 2005- 2010- 2015- 2020- 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 2019 present

1 2 1 4
1 1
1 1 2
1 1 3 5
1 3 4
1 1 3 10
2 2 1 5
2 3 1 1 7
2 1 1 2 7 13


Since the 1990s there has been big decline in plantation agriculture and ranching, with millions of hectares of crops replaced with grasslands that burn easily and fast

Sources: Associated Press, FEMA Picture: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS