Maui County Files Lawsuit Against HECO for Negligence in Lahaina Fires

Maui County, Hawaii, has filed a lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric Co. (HECO) on Thursday, alleging that the utility company’s failure to shut off power despite warnings of high winds and dry conditions was responsible for the devastating fires that destroyed Lahaina earlier this month.

The lawsuit, filed in the state’s Second Circuit Court, claims that HECO was warned by the National Weather Service of the potential for fires to spread quickly due to the high winds, but failed to take action. Witnesses and video evidence suggest that sparks from power lines ignited the fires as utility poles snapped in the wind, which was driven by a passing hurricane.

Maui County is seeking damages and “just compensation” against HECO and three related companies, accusing them of negligence. The county is seeking compensation for the destruction of public property and infrastructure, as well as natural resources.

HECO has not yet responded to the lawsuit, but the company has previously said that it is working with local authorities to investigate the cause of the fires. HECO has also said that it is working to improve its emergency response protocols and has implemented additional safety measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

The lawsuit is the latest development in the ongoing investigation into the cause of the Lahaina fires. It remains to be seen how the court will rule on the case, but the outcome could have far-reaching implications for HECO and other utility companies in the state.