The Justice Department of Hawaii, in the US, has received a class action accusing the largest electricity distributor in the archipelago, Hawaiian Electric, of causing the fires that killed 93 people on the island of Maui.
The lawsuit was brought by three law firms representing people affected by the fires in Lahaina, the archipelago’s former capital and one of Hawaii’s most popular tourist areas, according to local press.
The lawsuit states that Hawaiian Electric, which supplies electricity to 95% of the state, “inexcusably left its power lines operational during predicted high-fire-risk conditions.”
The destruction could have been avoided if the defendants had heeded the National Weather Service’s warnings. [norte-americano] and cut power to its power lines during expected high winds “just days before the fires started,” the lawsuit says.
Shutting down power lines for public safety is common in parts of the western United States during high fire risk conditions, as these lines have been the source of several fires, especially in California.
When the fires broke out last Tuesday, Aug. 8, and the island of Maui was left without power and telecommunications, Hawaii’s alarm system, the largest in the world, failed to activate, authorities admitted.
Hawaii Attorney General Anne López announced on Saturday that she will conduct an “exhaustive investigation” into authorities’ response to the disaster.
Hawaiian Electric said in a statement Sunday that it has restored power to 60% of customers who were without power since Tuesday and has about 300 people on site to power the remaining customers.
The company, which did not refer to the lawsuit, said there was extensive damage to parts of the electrical system that distributes power to communities and that the system “is still fragile,” prompting workers to exercise caution.
Hawaiian Electric admitted there may be “intermittent blackouts” and urged Maui residents to try to conserve electricity and limit its use.
Two of three fires in Maui are still burning, according to the county’s latest report Sunday, which has so far only been able to verify the identities of two of the 93 confirmed victims.
The local police stressed that the process will take a long time because a genetic or dental check is required.
Officials predict that as searches continue in the devastated areas, more victims will be found.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green estimated property damage at $6 billion.
These fires are the deadliest in the US in more than 100 years.
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Source: DN
