Thursday, October 03, 2024

Broken power lines caused deadly Maui wildfire, new report shows

BURY THEM!

KIARA ALFONSECA and LEAH SARNOFF
ABC
Wed, October 2, 2024 

Broken power lines caused deadly Maui wildfire, new report shows

A report has found that broken power lines caused the deadly August 2023 wildfire in Maui.

The wildfire on the Hawaiian Island killed 102 people and destroyed more than 2,200 structures, causing more than $5 billion in damages.

The nearly 300-page report released Wednesday comes from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which worked with local officials like the County of Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety to determine the cause.

The fire was initially blamed on the combination of high winds and dry weather. However, the investigation found that the widespread destruction was caused by a single fire that started by the "undetected re-energization of broken utility lines, which caused sparks that ignited unmaintained vegetation," Maui Fire Chief Bradford Ventura said during a press conference Wednesday.

The investigation found no definitive conclusion with how the ignition started, Ventura said, but noted that the report found the fire cause to be accidental.

"The origin of the fire was the overgrown vegetation at and surrounding utility pole 25 off of Lahainaluna Road," according to the report. "The cause of the fire was the re-energization of broken utility lines which caused the ejection of molten metallic material (sparks) to fall to the base of pole 25, igniting the unmaintained vegetation below."

The investigation also ruled out the possibility that there had been two separate fires. "This, in fact, was one fire," Ventura said.


PHOTO: Maui Mayor Richard Bissen stands before the Kuhinia Maui Paddle Out remembrance event honoring Lahaina wildfire victims on Aug. 8, 2024 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Mario Tama/Getty Images, FILE)

The wildfire was the fifth deadliest in U.S. history and the worst natural disaster in Hawaii's history, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. It sparked several other investigations centered on police response and the response from state and Maui county agencies.

In the days before the Aug. 8 wildfire, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency issued a red flag warning of "gusty winds and dry fuels" creating a risk of "extreme fire."

PHOTO: An aerial image taken on Aug. 10, 2023 shows a person walking down Front Street past destroyed buildings burned to the ground in Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

Fingers were pointed between the local agencies and companies connected to the fire. A report from state Attorney General Anne E. Lopez found that there is no evidence that Hawaiian Electric, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Maui Fire Department, Maui Police and others had developed plans to deal with such a fire risk.

A preliminary Maui Police Department report in February found that the understaffed police force grappled with communications and equipment issues that hadn't been anticipated. The police investigation didn't address the utility's potential culpability for the fires, the origin of the blazes or the fire crews' response.


PHOTO: In this Aug. 14, 2023 a view of destruction from Hwy 30 days after a fierce wildfire destroyed the town in Lahaina, Maui, Aug. 14, 2023. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images, FILE)

MORE: Native Hawaiians fighting to take control of Maui's water rights amid wildfire cleanup

The report found that police went without proper protective gear while juggling frantic traffic evacuations and that emergency dispatch for the island was overwhelmed by a call volume it was unable to handle. It also noted that suspended cables and downed electrical wires were strewn across roadways, cutting off what could have been critical routes for escape.

In August, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green announced a historic $4.037 billion settlement to resolve claims arising from the tragedy. The settlement addresses roughly 450 lawsuits filed by individuals, businesses and insurance companies in both state and federal courts against seven defendants -- state of Hawaii, County of Maui, Hawaiian Electric, Kamehameha Schools, West Maui Land Co., Hawaiian Telcom and Spectrum/Charter Communications.

They say they "undertook significant efforts to find a resolution that addresses the needs and ensures the well-being of plaintiffs, all affected individuals, and their families," according to a press release from Green's office.


Deadly Maui fire erupted from earlier blaze believed to have been extinguished, investigation finds

Associated Press
Wed, October 2, 2024 

The wildfire that killed at least 102 people on Maui last year erupted from an earlier brushfire caused by downed power lines that firefighters believed they had extinguished, officials confirmed, Wednesday as they presented their findings on the cause of the tragedy.

The Aug. 8, 2023, blaze — the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century — was long known to have emerged in the afternoon, in the same area as blaze that began early that morning. Driven by strong, erratic winds, the fire raced through the historic town of Lahaina, destroying thousands of buildings, overcoming people trapped in their cars and forcing some residents to flee into the ocean.

It has been unclear whether the blaze was a rekindling of the morning fire after firefighters spent hours dousing it or a separate one. The answer could prove significant to questions about liability for the destruction, though a tentative $4 billion settlement has been reached.

In presenting their findings, officials with the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Maui Fire Department did not address liability, but found that it was a rekindling of the morning fire.

The rekindling was most likely caused by high winds that blew undetected embers into the dry gully, they said.

A Hawaiian Electric power line fell early on the morning of Aug. 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 extinguished. After they left, flames were spotted again and though firefighters rushed back, they were no match for the wind and flames.

Pictures and crosses are displayed at a public hillside memorial to Lahaina wildfire victims on August 1, 2024 in Lahaina, Hawaii. August 8 marks the one-year anniversary of the Maui wildfires which killed 102 people and devastated the historic community of Lahaina in West Maui. Hawaii Governor Josh Green has announced that parties involved in the wildfire lawsuits against the government and utilities are nearing a settlement of claims which will total about $4 billion. - Mario Tama/Getty ImagesMore

Communication between the police and fire departments was spotty, cellphone networks were down and emergency officials did not activate the emergency sirens that might have warned residents to evacuate. Power lines and poles had fallen in many locations throughout town, and police blocked some roads to protect residents from potentially dangerous power lines. First responders also had trouble getting a firm answer from Hawaiian Electric representatives if the power had been cut to the area.

The blocked roads contributed to gridlock that left fleeing people trapped in their cars as the flames advanced. Others died in their homes or outside as they tried to escape. The death toll surpassed that of the 2018 Camp Fire in northern California, which left 85 dead and destroyed the town of Paradise.

In the months since, thousands of Lahaina residents have sued various parties they believe to be at fault for the fire, including Hawaiian Electric, Maui County and the state of Hawaii. The defendants have often tried to point fingers at each other, with Hawaiian Electric saying the county shouldn’t have left the first fire unattended, and Maui County contending the electric utility failed to take proper care with the power grid. Exactly who was responsible for clearing brush and maintaining area has also been a point of contention among the defendants, along with the utility’s lack of a public safety power shut-off program.

A few days before the one-year anniversary of the wildfires, Hawaii Gov. 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 claims.

But the deal is tied up in court, awaiting a decision from Hawaii Supreme Court on whether insurance companies can go after the defendants separately to recoup what they’ve paid to policyholders. Lawyers for people seeking compensation fear allowing insurance companies to sue Hawaiian Electric and others will subvert the deal, drain what is available to pay fire victims and lead to prolonged litigation.

Maui community implements changes after deadly wildfire

Gina Mangieri
Wed, October 2, 2024 


HONOLULU (KHON2) — In the wake of the deadliest fire in the U.S. in over a century, officials took steps to prevent future disasters in Maui. Gina Mangieri reported from Lahainaluna Road, where the fire originated.

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Residents were eager to learn what improvements had been made to enhance community safety. The focus was on the electric system; utility poles were replaced and reinforced to better withstand future incidents.

Maui Fire Chief Ventura emphasized the importance of underground utilities but acknowledged the costs involved.

“We’ve been proponents for underground utilities for years, but it’s expensive, and that cost will be passed on to homeowners,” he said.

Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) expressed regret over its operations contributing to the fire and implemented changes to its protocols, including a power safety shutoff program and measures to prevent automatic re-energization of power lines.

Another key concern highlighted in investigations was the issue of unmaintained brush.

County codes required vegetation to be no more than 18 inches high within 30 feet of a home. Community members, like Shane Treu, who recorded the initial spark of the fire, noted that the area had previously been overgrown, exacerbating the fire risk.

One fire by re-energization caused Lahaina fire: ATF report

Kamehameha Schools, the landowner in the area, improved vegetation management and established larger fire breaks.

Mangieri reached out to Kamehameha Schools to learn more about ongoing efforts.

“We recognize that we can do better. Steadfast in our commitment to be responsible land stewards, we are using all sources of information and guidance to improve our efforts to manage our lands,” said Kamehameha Schools.

However, some residents, including Treu, raised concerns about access to emergency escape routes, noting that locked gates could hinder evacuation efforts.

“I was told to get myself cutters,” Treu said, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

In response, Chief Ventura announced plans for inspectors to assess vegetation management across Maui County before the fire season.

“We plan to identify high-risk areas and notify landowners if vegetation needs to be managed,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) stated that the fire was deemed accidental but refrained from commenting on potential liabilities or criminal implications.

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Mangieri will continue to investigate these concerns, including the use of emergency evacuation routes.

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