Hawaiian Electric has acknowledged its downed lines caused the initial fire but has argued in court filings it couldn't be responsible for the later flare-up because its lines had been turned off for hours by the time the fire reignited and spread through the town.
How much of Maui was burned?
The Lahaina fire – the most devastating of the blazes – burned an estimated 2,170 acres, the County of Maui said in a news release on Monday. That's about 3.4 square miles.
What caused the wildfires in Maui 2023?
Hawaiian Electric admits its power lines started the Maui wildfire but says the fire department declared mission accomplished too soon. Linemen work on poles, Aug. 13, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii, following a deadly wildfire.
Were the Maui fires arson?
The Maui Fire Department, which extinguished the fire by 6.40 a.m., has yet to determine the cause of the blaze that left an estimated $150,000 in damage but said it's under investigation and arson hasn't been ruled out. The fire, if treated as arson, may never be solved.
Where did Maui get fire from?
Who is responsible for the fire in Maui?
Attorneys who filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric, accusing the utility company of causing the devastating Lahaina wildfire in Maui, are asking a judge to let them expand the suit to include telecommunications companies along with private and public landowners.
Why were the wildfires in Maui so bad?
A week later, officials still do not know what the exact cause of the fires were, but experts say that the wildfires' devastation is due to a mix of high temperatures, strong winds from a Category 4 storm near the islands, and drought conditions that dried out grasses on the island.
How did the wildfires start?
Most common causes of wildfire ignitionsThe real problem is human-caused ignitions—whether accidental or intentional—which account for 88 percent of ignitions globally, but are closer to 90 to 95 percent of ignitions in California. The top ignition causes are: Unattended campfires.
How many people died in the Maui fire?
100 peopleThursday's 100-day mark since the inferno coincides with a somber moment for Maui – officials this week increased the death toll of the August 8 disaster to 100 people. This photo of Lahaina from October 7 shows the damage that remains two months after the fire swept through the area.
How did Lahaina fire start?
According to Hawaiian Electric, the fire that began around 6:30 a.m. “appears to have been caused by power lines that fell in high winds,” as seen in videos taken by local residents that showed a small fire by downed power lines near the intersection of Lahainaluna Road and Hookahua Street that spread to the field …