Maui County is suing Hawaii’s energy provider for the tragic fire that destroyed Lahaina, claiming that if power lines had been turned off, the tragedy might have been prevented.
The complaint is the most recent development in a rising criticism of the power company following the fire, which claimed the lives of at least 115 people. Videos purportedly show downed cables lighting up vegetation before the tragedy occurred.
The lawsuit claims that Hawaiian Electric and its subsidiaries negligently maintained electricity lines live despite having enough warning of severe winds from a nearby hurricane.
“These power lines foreseeably ignited the fast-moving, deadly, and destructive Lahaina Fire, which completely destroyed residences, businesses, churches, schools, and historic cultural sites,” the lawsuit, filed Thursday, says.
“Defendants knew that the high winds the (National Weather Service) predicted would topple power poles, knock down power lines, and ignite vegetation.
“Defendants also knew that if their overhead electrical equipment ignited a fire, it would spread at a critically rapid rate.”
The county which is itself under pressure over what critics say was a lack of preparation ahead of the fire and a lackluster response in its aftermath is demanding unspecified damages and compensation for the destruction.
“Maui County stands alongside the people and communities of Lahaina and Kula to recover public resource damages and rebuild after these devastating utility-caused fires,” the county said in a statement.
Large lengths of above-ground power lines in California are routinely shut down by power providers when there are heavy winds; this practice is credited with preventing several fires.
On August 14, the CEO of Hawaiian Electric, Shelee Kimura, justified the choice to maintain the network, claiming that Lahaina’s water pumps depended on power to function.
The August 8 fire was the country’s deadliest wildfire in more than a century.
It destroyed the historic town of Lahaina, a former Hawaiian royal seat and a flourishing tourist hub, and burnt across around 2,000 acres (800 hectares).
Strong winds that were fanning the flames caused them to spread so swiftly that many locals were taken off guard and didn’t even realize there was a fire until they actually saw it.
Some people who were attempting to escape the town abandoned their automobiles and went in search of safety in the ocean, where they cowered for hours as their homes were set on fire.
The official death toll is certain to increase once a somber search of Lahaina’s skeletal remains is finished.
The recovery process is projected to take years and thousands of individuals have been rendered homeless. According to federal estimates, the fire may have caused $5.5 billion in damages.
