Downed power lines may have caused Maui’s wildfires.

Downed power lines may have caused Maui's wildfires.

Hawaiian Electric Faces Criticism for Failure to Prevent Deadly Wildfire

In the early morning hours of August 8th, a blaze began to engulf the town of Lahaina in Hawaii. What started as a small fire quickly grew into the deadliest wildfire the United States had seen in over a century. Now, video footage captured by a local resident, Mark Treu, has emerged as crucial evidence pointing to fallen utility lines as the possible cause of the fire.

Treu, a 49-year-old resort worker, called 911 in a panic and then immediately turned on his Facebook video to livestream his attempt to fight the approaching flames. Armed with only a garden hose, he desperately tried to wet down his property, unsure if his efforts would be in vain. His video, along with others filmed by residents, captured the early moments of the inferno that would go on to claim the lives of at least 99 people.

The footage has sparked outrage and led to a class-action lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric Co., the utility company responsible for the power lines in the area. The lawsuit accuses the company of negligence and failing to take necessary precautions to prevent wildfires. Documents obtained by the lawsuit reveal that Hawaiian Electric Co. was aware of the effectiveness of preemptive power shutoffs, similar to those employed in California, to mitigate fire risks but chose not to implement them.

Experts agree that any utility company operating in areas prone to wildfires should have a plan in place to shut off power during periods of high wind warnings. Michael Wara, a wildfire expert at Stanford University, stresses the importance of proactive measures in such cases. “Nobody likes to turn the power off—it’s inconvenient—but any utility that has significant wildfire risk, especially wind-driven wildfire risk, needs to do it and needs to have a plan in place,” he stated. However, Hawaiian Electric Co. declined to comment on the accusations or their past decisions regarding power shutoffs.

The decision whether to shut off power during high wind conditions is indeed a complicated one. Hawaiian Electric Co. President and CEO, Shelee Kimura, pointed out that apart from the inconvenience caused, there are other factors to consider, such as the impact on people relying on medical equipment or firefighters who need power for essential operations. She highlighted that even in places where power shutoffs have been used, there is controversy surrounding their implementation.

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The tragic events in Lahaina raise a crucial question: Should the utility company prioritize early warnings and power shutoffs, or should it focus on ensuring uninterrupted power supply for essential services? This dilemma faced by Hawaiian Electric Co. is not unique to them. Maui Police Chief John Pelletier expressed the frustration of having to navigate criticisms from people demanding both timely notifications and power shutoffs. The situation demonstrates the challenging balance that utility companies strive to achieve in such circumstances.

The damning evidence against Hawaiian Electric Co. includes videos posted by eyewitnesses like Treu and his neighbor, Robert Arconado, who documented the fire’s progression. Their videos, along with satellite imagery, show that the fire rapidly spread in the direction of the wind, leaving entire neighborhoods reduced to ash. While experts believe multiple fires may have ignited simultaneously, there were no recorded lightning strikes or other natural causes that could have triggered them.

Robert Marshall, CEO of Whisker Labs, analyzed electrical grid data and found a high number of sparking power lines incidents on the night of the fire. Faulty transmission lines due to fallen trees or accidents caused power loss, potentially creating sparks that could have ignited fires. Marshall explained that any one of these faults could have been the source of a wildfire. The evidence strongly suggests that Hawaiian Electric Co. failed to address the degraded state of its power grid on Maui, which was vulnerable due to aging wooden power poles.

The devastating outcome of the Lahaina fire is reminiscent of the 2018 Camp Fire in California, where downed power lines caused a disaster that claimed 85 lives. In response to the tragic incident, Pacific Gas & Electric agreed to pay billions in damages to fire victims and new procedures were adopted to prioritize power shutoffs during high-risk situations. Despite citing the Camp Fire and California’s power shutoff plan in their planning documents, Hawaiian Electric Co. had no procedure in place to turn off power on Maui on the day of the fire.

The failure to adopt preventative measures and perform essential maintenance has drawn criticism from various quarters. Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez has launched a comprehensive review of decision-making processes and standing policies leading up to, during, and after the wildfires. The company itself has initiated its investigation, but its shares have plummeted on fears of potential damages that may need to be paid. The stock price further tumbled as public confidence dwindled.

Mikal Watts, one of the lawyers representing the plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit, argues that the fire in Lahaina was entirely preventable if proper precautions had been taken. He alleges that Hawaiian Electric Co. neglected the maintenance and replacement of aging power poles, contributing to the disaster. The sentiment is echoed by Jennifer Potter, a former member of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, who confirms the poor condition of the wooden power poles and the urgent need for a comprehensive wildfire mitigation plan.

As the investigation unfolds and legal proceedings progress, the tragedy in Lahaina serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of proactive measures in preventing wildfires. Utility companies in fire-prone areas must prioritize the safety of their communities over convenience. The lessons learned from incidents like these should drive policy changes and serve as a catalyst for comprehensive plans that factor in natural risks, climate conditions, and the wellbeing of residents. Preventable tragedies like these should never happen again.