It could take weeks or months to determine the cause of the blaze that destroyed the seaside Hawaiian town of Lahaina, one of the deadliest wildfires in US history. But attention is already focusing on whether power lines owned by Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. played a role, with the stock plunging more than 40% since the fire began. While many things could have provided the initial spark for the flames, which were fanned by high winds, electrical lines have a tragic history of triggering fires during wind storms.
1. What caused the Maui fire?
We don’t know. Hawaiian Electric, which operates the island’s power utility, has come under criticism for not shutting off power despite warnings of critical fire conditions due to predicted dry, gale-force winds. Several wildfires erupted across Maui on Aug. 8, as Hurricane Dora passed south of the Hawaiian islands. The company that day warned customers that winds had knocked down power lines in West Maui, where Lahaina is located, and near Kula, where another fire broke out. The company’s press release, which said customers could face extended blackouts, did not mention fires. That said, many things can spark a blaze when winds are strong and vegetation is dry. Wildfires have been started by cigarette butts, trucks dragging chains along a road, and in one infamous case, pyrotechnics at a gender-reveal party.
2. How do power lines cause wildfires?
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Several ways, usually involving wind. Strong enough gusts can tear down lines or knock over poles. They can also topple nearby trees or send branches flying into power lines, causing sparks. Even when lines don’t fall, winds can cause them to sway into each other, again creating sparks and sending molten metal into the grass below.
3. What’s the history?
Power lines have repeatedly sparked deadly fires across the western US, particularly in California. The state’s largest utility, PG&E Corp., was driven into bankruptcy in 2019 after several devastating, wind-driven fires blamed on the company’s equipment, including the 2017 wine country fires north of San Francisco and the 2018 Camp Fire, which leveled the town of Paradise and killed 85 people. Plaintiff law firms now working in Maui represented fire victims in a $13.5 billion settlement with PG&E.
4. How can fires from power lines be prevented?
Utilities have long trimmed trees near power lines. But the string of deadly western fires, which also were fueled by years of drought, have forced the companies to try other tactics. They’ve started placing more power lines underground, and using protective coatings on overhead lines. In California, Nevada and Oregon, utilities now also shut off power lines in advance of high winds during dry conditions. The practice, know as Public Safety Power Shutoffs, angers customers but likely prevents fires.
5. What does it mean for Hawaiian Electric?
Investor worries about Hawaiian Electric’s potential role in starting the Maui fires, which killed more than 90 people, triggered a selloff of the company’s stock. On Aug. 14, the company’s shares tumbled in their biggest one-day loss in 19 years. Guggenheim Securities warned in a research note that given the size of company — with a market capitalization of about $2.3 billion — and the possible liabilities if power lines started the fires, “it’s hard for us to imagine if the company will emerge from this tragic incident in its current form.” Some type of government intervention, such as municipalization, could be the result, the New York-based investment research firm said.
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FAQs
The answer may lie in an overgrown gully beneath Hawaiian Electric Co. power lines and something that harbored smoldering embers from the initial fire before rekindling in high winds into a wall of flame that quickly overtook the town of Lahaina, destroying thousands of structures and killing at least 97 people.
Did power lines cause Maui fire? ›
Maui Electric confirmed Monday that downed power lines were the cause behind a morning fire near Lahaina on Aug. 8, however the company maintains they had shut off the power before another fire began in the same area and later engulfed the island.
What caused the fire on Maui to start? ›
Hard winds had toppled utility poles, and flying sparks from downed power lines likely started the blaze.
How did Maui create fire? ›
When Māui returned to his village he didn't bring back fire as the villagers had expected. Instead he brought back dry wood from the Kaikōmako tree and showed them how to rub the dry sticks together forming friction which would eventually start a fire.
What is the link between power lines and wildfires? ›
Old equipment can set off sparks. If the weather gets really hot, power lines can sag and touch dry grass or trees. If there's a lot of wind, that can push a power line into tree branches or damage equipment. All those are and have been fire-starters.
Who is to blame for Maui wildfires? ›
Maui County has filed its own lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric, which it blames for the fire. The company said in a statement that its immediate focus is on rebuilding Maui.
How did the Maui fire affect the environment? ›
These fires burn through native forests that promote the biodiversity of local plants and animals. The loss of natural soil makes it hard to restore and replant native species. As a result, forests affected by wildfires become grassy, which increases the chances of post-fire erosion.
Why did Maui steal fire? ›
Māui wanted to know where fire came from, so one night he went among the villages of his people and put all the fires out. Māui's mother Taranga, who was their rangatira, said that someone would have to ask Mahuika, the goddess of fire, for more. So Māui (a grandson of Mahuika) offered to go and find her.
How fast did the Maui fire spread? ›
Fanned by intense winds churned up by Hurricane Dora to the south, the fire raced to the coastline in 60 to 90 minutes. Investigators will focus on fire's early stages as they shift gears from fact-finding to determining the cause of one of the deadliest fires in US history.
How much damage did the Maui fire cause? ›
The disaster
On Aug. 8, 2023, wind-driven wildfires on the island of Maui destroyed more than 2,200 structures and caused about $5.5 billion in damages. The most significantly impacted area was the historic district of Lahaina, where more than 100 lives were lost.
Question: Is the Maui wildfire still burning? Answer: Yes, the County of Maui has reported that the Lahaina fire is the only wildfire that has been 100% contained. The town of Olinda has increased containment of the fire to 95% while the Kula fire remains unchanged at 96%.
How did Maui get his power? ›
Apparently wanting nothing to do with their son, Maui's parents threw him into the sea as an infant, and left him for dead. He was saved by the gods, who raised Maui, granting supernatural abilities, immortality, and a magical fish hook that allows him to shapeshift.
Where does Maui get its power from? ›
Also referred to as the Maalaea Power Plant, is located off of North Kihei Road, just minutes away from Maalaea Harbor. At this power plant, fossil fuels are converted into electricity. Most of the island (and our surrounding Maui County islands of Lanai and Molokai) get power from this source.
What fires were started by power lines? ›
California Wildfires Caused by Utility Companies
- Dixie Fire. ...
- Thomas Fire. ...
- Witch Fire. ...
- Laguna Fire. ...
- Camp Fire.
Certain unusual circ*mstances, however, can cause line conductors to slap together. Conductor slap creates high-energy arcing and ejects hot metal particles capable of igniting ground-level combustibles. In addition, where line conductors are made of aluminum, the ejected particles may burn as they fall.
Why are power lines bad for the environment? ›
Long-term impacts can exist as long as the line is in place and include land use restrictions, loss of woodland, and aesthetic impacts. Temporary impacts occur during construction or at infrequent intervals such as during line repair or ROW maintenance. They can include noise or crop damage during construction.
Why are there so many burned out cars on Maui? ›
Either owners trying to hide their identity or other vandals out for kicks set the abandoned cars and trucks on fire, leaving the charred hulks for the county to haul away. Because few are caught it's hard to know if the pyromaniacs are locals or out-of-towners.
How far did the Maui fire spread? ›
15 officials estimated 3,200 had burned. Together, those estimates represent more than 10 square miles, of Maui's total area of 735 square miles.
