Maui Wildfire Cause: Telecommunications Company Responsible for Devastating Wildfire Will Face Lawsuits

Lawyers for residents and business owners in Lahaina, Hawaii, are accusing cable TV and telephone companies of contributing to the Maui wildfires by allegedly overloading and destabilizing some power poles.

(Photo : Getty Images/Yuki Iwamura)

Following a visit to a warehouse where Hawaiian Electric Company is storing power poles and electrical equipment that may be important in the investigation of last month's devastating fires on Maui, lawyers for Lahaina residents and business owners told a court Tuesday that cable TV and telephone companies share responsibility for the disaster.

The lawyers claimed that the wires were linked in a way that put too much tension on the poles, leading them to lean and collapse in the winds on Aug. 8.

Lawsuit

LippSmith LLP has previously filed a proposed class action in Hawaii state court against Hawaii's electric provider and Maui County.

Attorney Graham LippSmith has now asked the court to add a number of telecommunications firms, as well as public and private landowners, to the initial complaint.

"In a disaster of this magnitude, it takes some time for all the potentially responsible parties to come into focus and be brought into court. Our investigation thus far shows a constellation of many serious failures that together led to this horrible tragedy," MaryBeth LippSmith, co-founder of the Hawaii- and California-based firm, said in an interview.

Hawaiian Electric, whose power poles have been accused of igniting the flames that started the Maui wildfires, took responsibility for starting the first fire but blamed the firefighters for declaring the fire contained and leaving the area, only for a second fire to break out nearby.

The case also targets private and state landowners who allegedly failed to preserve the extremely combustible vegetation, which could have accelerated the spread of the fire, according to the news service.

Re-entry to Lahaina

Maui Emergency Management Agency has launched a website, www.MauiRecovers.org, that will provide vital information and assistance to residents planning to return to Lahaina.

The website provides re-entry data on how to safely return to their homes.

Authorities said that it is their intent and goal to support residents and businesses returning as well as those who are visiting their properties to collect any remaining personal effects.

They will also help those who are bringing their insurance providers and carriers to settle insurance claims and do their own personal damage assessment.

In the latest data from Maui County, the Olinda fire has scorched 1,081 acres and is 90% contained, while the Kula fire has scorched 202 acres and is 95% contained.

The catastrophic fire in Lahaina is 100% contained.

Hundreds are still missing from the fire, according to officials.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green said that 99% of land-based searches in Maui had been completed, with some maritime searches still ongoing.

He also reported that 5,614 residents who had been displaced by the fires were staying in hotels, with 1,100 staying in Airbnbs while long-term housing arrangements were being worked out.