Hawaii’s electric utility acknowledged Sunday night its power lines started a wildfire on Maui but faulted county firefighters for declaring the blaze contained and leaving the scene, only to have a second wildfire break out nearby and become the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century.

In its statement, the utility addressed the cause for the first time. It said the fire on the morning of Aug. 8 “appears to have been caused by power lines that fell in high winds.” The Associated Press reported Saturday that bare electrical wire that could spark on contact and leaning poles on Maui were the possible cause.

But Hawaiian Electric appeared to blame Maui County for most of the devastation — the fact that the fire appeared to reignite that afternoon and tore through downtown Lahaina, killing at least 115 people and destroying 2,000 structures.

  • girlfreddy@lemmy.caOP
    202·
    1 year ago

    The power lines were not insulated and the company had been warned of the danger.

    This is on them.

    • GreenSkree@lemmy.world
      32·
      1 year ago

      Are power lines ever really insulated though? I’m Midwest US and have only seen them insulated when running from the poles to houses. Have never seen them insulated anywhere else.

      • brianorca@lemmy.world
        3·
        1 year ago

        Here in California, they started using insulated wire for all of them a few years ago after a big fire in 2018. They recently replaced a bunch of poles near me and I’m not even in a brush area. I guess it’s not as much priority in the Midwest, but Hawaii should have followed California’s lead.