As the devastation on Maui comes into clearer focus, so does the possible cause of the deadly wildfire that destroyed thousands of buildings and killed hundreds of people.
Increasing evidence indicates that utility equipment damaged by high winds from a nearby hurricane may have been the culprit for starting the fire. But according to the Washington Post, Hawaiian Electric, which moved quickly to restore power after the wildfire, may not have followed protocols in removing damaged equipment. The utility may have hauled away downed poles, power lines, and other equipment before the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) was able to begin an investigation into the cause of the fire.
Hawaiian Electric disputes this claim and says that the downed equipment was carefully documented before it was removed.
Beyond the complications with the investigation into the cause of the fire, the utility is also facing several lawsuits alleging it didn’t properly de-energize equipment quickly enough to prevent the fires in high winds.
Greg Zimmerman is senior contributing editor for FacilitiesNet.com and Building Operating Management magazine.
