Hawaiian Electric said fallen power lines likely caused a fire in Lahaina on Aug. 8, just not the one that ultimately killed at least 115 people and leveled the historic town.

What You Need To Know

  • In a release issued on Sunday, the utility said the first fire reported near the intersection of Lahainaluna Road and Hookahua Street at 6:30 a.m. “appears to have been caused by power lines that fell in high winds” 

  • Maui Fire Department personnel responded to the fire and later reported it “100% contained” and later “extinguished.” Firefighters left the area around 2 p.m., about an hour before another fire broke out in a field near Lahaina Intermediate School

  • HECO, the subject of at least nine lawsuits — including one by Maui County — alleging negligence in the fires, said its power lines in West Maui had been deactivated for more than six hours when the second fire erupted shortly before 3 p.m. was carried by high winds across more than 2,100 acres

  • HECO president and CEO Shelee Kimura said Maui County's suit against the utility is "factually and legally irresponsible"

 

In a release issued on Sunday, the utility said the first fire reported near the intersection of Lahainaluna Road and Hookahua Street at 6:30 a.m. “appears to have been caused by power lines that fell in high winds.” Maui Fire Department personnel responded to the fire and later reported it “100% contained” and later “extinguished.” Firefighters left the area around 2 p.m., about an hour before another fire broke out in a field near Lahaina Intermediate School.

HECO, the subject of at least nine lawsuits — including one by Maui County — alleging negligence in the fires, said its power lines in West Maui had been deactivated for more than six hours when the second fire erupted shortly before 3 p.m. was carried by high winds across more than 2.100 acres.

“We were surprised and disappointed that the County of Maui rushed to court even before completing its own investigation,” said HECO president and CEO Shelee Kimura. “We believe the complaint is factually and legally irresponsible. It is inconsistent with the path that we believe we should pursue as a resilient community committed and accountable to each other as well as to Hawaii’s future. We continue to stand ready to work to that end with our communities and others. Unfortunately, the county’s lawsuit may leave us no choice in the legal system but to show its responsibility for what happened that day.”

HECO said it has records that “conclusively establish” that there was no electricity flowing through wires anywhere on the West Maui Coast when the second fire broke out.

Videos shot by local residents first implicated HECO for it supposed role in the West Maui fires but the utility said the videos actually show power lines sparking the first fire, not the second.

HECO said its emergency crews arrived at Lahainaluna Road in the afternoon to begin repairs and saw no fire, smoke or embers in the area.

“Shortly before 3 p.m., while the power remained off, our crew members saw a small fire about 75 yards away from Lahainaluna Road in the field near the Intermediate School,” the release stated. “They immediately called 911 and reported that fire. By the time the Maui County Fire Department arrived back on the scene, it was not able to contain the Afternoon Fire and it spread out of control toward Lahaina.”

Scott Seu, president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric Industries, said the county’s lawsuit “distracts from the important work that needs to be done for the people of Lahaina and Maui.”

“Since the devastating fire in Lahaina, Hawaiian Electric’s focus has been supporting all of those who have been impacted and helping Maui recover,” Seu said. “HEI stands with Hawaiian Electric and the community in rebuilding Lahaina and empowering a thriving future for Maui and the other islands we serve.”

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.