Hawaiian Electric Accused Of Inaction Causing Maui Wildfire In Negligence Lawsuit

Topline

Hawaii’s largest power company was hit with a lawsuit Wednesday alleging the “negligent and reckless operation” of its infrastructure “necessarily caused the Lahaina fire”—one of multiple blazes that engulfed the island of Maui, killing more than 100 and leaving about 1,300 people unaccounted for.

Lahaina lost more than 2,000 structures in the blaze, many of which were residential. (Robert … [+] Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Key Facts

The lawsuit, which names a Lahaina family as plaintiffs, scrutinized Hawaiian Electric’s preventive practices, saying it failed to clear vegetation, maintain its equipment and de-energize its power lines in a timely manner.

The lawsuit said that despite possessing general knowledge of wildfires and inclement weather warnings, the power utility company “did nothing.”

Hawaiian Electric, which serves 95% of Hawaii’s approximate 1.4 million residents, allegedly designed, constructed and maintained its electrical equipment “unreasonably, negligently, and recklessly,” according to the filing.

The plaintiffs demanded a jury trial in its case against the power company.

Hawaiian Electric did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Crucial Quote

“Hawaiian Electric is not just responsible and they weren’t just negligent,” Mikal Watts, a lead attorney on the case, told NBC Wednesday, which first reported the lawsuit. “They were grossly negligent by making conscious decisions to delay grid modernization projects that would have prevented this very tragedy.”

Big Number

110. That’s the number of fatalities confirmed by Hawaii Gov. Josh Green on Wednesday. Officials have expressed concern that the number may likely increase in the aftermath of the wildfires. Additionally, about 2,000 individuals are still without power, according to Maui County officials.

Tangent

County officials said in a presser Wednesday that residents should not be concerned about a “land grab” after worries surfaced this week that wealthy outsiders would use the tragedy as an opportunity to snap up land.

Key Background

The Maui wildfires are still raging after beginning more than a week ago on the 727 square mile island. The Lahaina fire, one of three blazes that remain active, was 85% contained as of Tuesday after scorching historic landmarks and more than 2,000 structures—a majority of which are residential. Experts have pointed to a mixture of hurricane winds, drought and dry vegetation as one of the primary contributors to the blazes. However, as more information begins to trickle in from investigations into the wildfires’ causes, reports have said it’s likely power lines were the cause of Maui’s first reported wildfire.