Hawaiian Electric Company Admits Downed Power Lines Caused Morning Blaze In Lahaina, Refutes Maui Fire Lawsuit Claims

deadline.com:

After weeks of speculation, Hawaiian Electric Company, which provides power to Lahaina, admitted that its power lines caused the first of two flare-ups in a field next to Lahaina Intermediate School.

But, the company maintains it is not responsible for the fires that killed at least 115 people and left an unknown number of others missing, making them the deadliest in the U.S.

in more than a century. The statement came in response to a lawsuit filed Thursday by Maui County that claims the utility was supposed “to properly maintain and repair the electric transmission lines, and other equipment including utility poles associated with their transmission of electricity, and to keep vegetation properly trimmed and maintained so as to prevent contact with overhead power lines and other electric equipment.” Further, the suit says the electric company should have powered down its lines sooner, given the combination of very dry brush and very high winds.

Today, Hawaiian Electric expressed disappointment at those claims. “We were surprised and disappointed that the County of Maui rushed to court even before completing its own investigation,” Shelee Kimura, president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric said in a statement. “We believe the complaint is factually and legally irresponsible.