A wildfire that killed at least 101 people in Maui last year erupted from an earlier blaze sparked by a downed power line that firefighters believed had been extinguished, officials confirmed Wednesday as they released findings on the cause of the tragedy.
On August 8, 2023, fire – the largest fire in the US in more than a century – has long been known to appear in the evening, in the same area as the fire that started in the morning. Brought about by strong and uncertain winds, fire ran through the historic city from Lahaina, destroying thousands of buildings, beat people trapped in the car and forced some residents to flee to the sea.
It is not clear whether the fire was a rekindling of the morning fire after firefighters spent hours putting it out or a separate one. The answer may prove important to the question of liability for damages, though the $4 billion debt is tentative has arrived.
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In presenting their findings, officials with the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Maui Fire Department did not address responsibility, but found that it was the rekindling of the morning fire.
This rekindling was most likely caused by a strong wind that blew undetected embers into the dry gully, they said.
A Hawaiian Electric power line collapsed early in the morning of August 8, sparking a fire in overgrown brush near the edge of town. Fire crews responded and stayed for several hours until they believed the fire was out. After they left, the fire reappeared and even when the firemen returned, they were no match for the wind and fire.
Communication between police and fire departments was unclear, cell phone networks were down and emergency officials were down does not activate the emergency siren which residents may have been warned to evacuate. Power lines and poles have fallen in many locations across the city, and police have blocked several roads to protect residents from dangerous power lines. First responders also had trouble getting a firm answer from Hawaiian Electric representatives that the power had been shut off in the area.
Blocked roads caused traffic jams that left people fleeing trapped in their cars as the fire advanced. Others died at home or outside while trying to escape. The death toll surpassed the 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California, which left 85 dead and devastated the city of Paradise.
In the months since, thousands of Lahaina residents have sued various parties they believe are at fault for the fire, including Hawaiian Electric, Maui County and the state of Hawaii. The defendants often tried to point the finger at each other, with Hawaiian Electric saying the county should not have left the first fire unattended, and Maui County fighting the utility’s failure to take care of its power grid. Who is responsible for clearing brush and maintaining the area is also a point of contention among the defendants, as is the lack of a public safety blackout program.
A report last month conducted for the Hawaii attorney general’s office by the Fire Safety Research Institute found “no evidence” that Hawaii officials are making preparations for wildfires, despite warnings that critical fire weather is coming.
A few days before the anniversary of the wildfires, Hawaii Governor Josh Green announced a $4 billion settlement. That’s the amount the defendants — including Hawaiian Electric, the state, Maui County, large landowners and others — have agreed to pay to settle the lawsuit.
But the deal is tied up in court, pending a ruling from the Hawaii Supreme Court on whether insurers can go after the defendants separately to recover what they have paid out to policyholders. Lawyers for those seeking compensation fear allowing insurers to sue Hawaiian Electric and others would scuttle the deal, drain what is available to pay fire victims and lead to longer lawsuits.
In a June survey from the Hawaii State Rural Health Association, 71% of Maui County respondents were directly affected by fire said they began to have to cut back on food and groceries personal financial reasons. The survey found that most Maui residents are more worried than hopeful about the future.
fire it has also taken a mental toll in society. Before the fire, about 12,000 people lived in Lahaina. Of those, 10% have sought help for mental health, according to the Hawaii State Department of Health.
