What is the cause of the fires in Hawaii?

The cause of Hawaii’s wildfires may be related to damage to the local power company’s infrastructure.

According to overseas news on August 14, 2023, the Maui County government of Hawaii, USA reported that day that wildfires that lasted for several days had killed 93 people in Maui. According to reports by NBC and the New York Post on August 13, this wildfire is the deadliest in modern American history. The cause of the fire may be related to the damage to the local power company's infrastructure.

Currently, three legal firms have filed a class action lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric Company on behalf of victims, accusing the company of failing to cut off power before strong winds arrived. A power substation owned by the company had previously experienced downed wires, and the incident occurred close to the original point of the fire. After investigation, the three law firms all believed that damaged infrastructure of Hawaiian Electric Company caused the fire that destroyed the town of Lahaina.

Popular people criticize the government for its ineffective response

The "deadliest" wildfire in a century recently broke out in Maui, Hawaii, USA. As search and rescue efforts continue, the death toll is likely to rise further. Many local people told reporters that they did not receive early warning information, the alarm system did not respond, and government departments failed to respond to the disaster.

However, according to Elizabeth Pickett, co-executive director of the nonprofit Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, the disaster was foreseeable. Pickett told a Honolulu News reporter that she co-authored a report about a decade ago that identified Maui as being at increased risk from wildfires and Lahaina as being in an extreme danger zone. Emergency services "could have done more" to prevent or mitigate disasters, she said.