A wildfire in Maui, Hawaii, which claimed over 100 lives, is now suspected to have been caused by fallen utility lines. This tragic event has sparked discussions about the responsibilities of utility companies and the need for proactive disaster prevention measures.
The wildfire, which decimated the historic town of Lahaina, was caught on video by local resident Shane Treu. The footage shows a wooden power pole snapping amidst strong winds, with the sparking power line igniting dry grass below.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Hawaiian Electric Co. came under criticism for not preempting the disaster by shutting down power amid high wind warnings. The company is now facing a class-action lawsuit, which cites the utility’s awareness of the effectiveness of preemptive power shutoffs in preventing wildfires, a strategy used in California but not adopted by the Hawaiian utility.
The lawsuit’s lawyers have pointed to evidence, captured on video, which suggests that power line ignition may have been a cause of the fire. Treu’s footage, they argue, shows a power line sparking amid dry grass, potentially igniting the catastrophic wildfire.
Robert Marshall, CEO of Whisker Labs, analyzed electrical grid data and found an unusually high number of live wire incidents throughout Maui on the night of the fire and the following morning. The grid sensors, installed across Maui, recorded breaks in electric transmission that could have caused such faults.
The incident in Maui bears striking similarities to the 2018 Camp Fire in northern California, which killed 85 people due to downed power lines. This disaster led to Pacific Gas & Electric agreeing to pay over $13.5 billion to fire victims and spurred state regulators to adopt new mandates requiring utilities to shut off power during high-risk fire conditions.
The Maui fire, which led to significant losses and damages, underscores the pressing need for utilities to adopt proactive measures in wildfire prevention and risk management. This includes strategies like preemptive power shutoffs and infrastructure upgrades to protect communities from the devastating impact of wildfires.