The county of Maui has sued the Hawaii Electric Power Company over a deadly fire that devastated the city of Lahaina, arguing that the damage could have been avoided had the power lines been cut.
The lawsuit comes amid growing criticism of the energy provider following a fire that killed at least 115 people.
Videos showed what appeared to be electrical wires emitting sparks near plants hours before the tragedy.
The lawsuit says there were many warnings of strong winds from a hurricane, but Hawaiian Electric and its subsidiaries ignored them and kept power lines running.
“Power lines were predictably ignited by the rapid, deadly and devastating Lahaina Fire, which has completely destroyed residences, businesses, churches, schools, and historic cultural sites,” the lawsuit, filed Thursday, reads.
It also states, “The defendants knew that the high winds expected (from the National Weather Service) would topple utility poles, knock down power lines, and set vegetation on fire.”
“The defendants also knew that if their electrical equipment started a fire, it would spread at a very rapid rate,” the county said.
The county authorities – themselves under pressure from what critics say was a lack of preparation before the fire and a lackluster response in its aftermath – are seeking unspecified damages for the damage.
“The County of Maui stands with the residents and communities of Lahaina and Kula to compensate for the damage to public resources and to rebuild after these devastating fires,” a statement read.
California power companies often shut down large sections of overhead power lines during strong winds, a strategy credited with helping to avoid some fires.
Hawaiian Electric President Shelly Kimura on August 14 defended the decision not to shut down the grid, saying that the electricity was needed for Lahaina’s water pumping operations.
The August 8 fire is the deadliest in the United States in more than a century.
The fire destroyed about 800 hectares and led to the destruction of the historic city of Lahaina, the seat of government during the Hawaiian monarchy.
It is expected that the death toll will rise with the end of the search operations, and on Thursday, Maui County officials issued a list of 388 names of people still missing.
The fire also displaced thousands, and recovery from its effects is expected to take years. Federal estimates indicate that the fire caused $5.5 billion in damages.
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2023-08-26 05:07:07
