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Hawaiian Electric Responds to Maui Fire Department Report on 2023 Wildfires

AInvestWednesday, Oct 2, 2024 9:00 pm ET
2min read
Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HEI) subsidiary Hawaiian Electric (HE) has issued a response to the reports released by the Maui Fire Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) detailing the findings of their investigations into the cause and origin of the Aug. 8, 2023 Maui windstorm and wildfires. The fires in Lahaina and Upcountry Maui were terrible tragedies for the state, causing significant loss and pain to families, neighbors, customers, and employees. HE has been committed to transparency and accountability since the start, working with government, community, and business partners to keep communities safe.

The reports from the Maui Fire Department and ATF largely affirmed the original understanding of the timeline of events as first described by HE. A fire reported at about 6:35 a.m. was caused by HE equipment damaged by high winds. The Maui County Fire Department responded to this small fire, reported it was "100% contained," declared it had been "extinguished," and then left the scene. An afternoon fire began in the same area shortly after their departure and spread to Lahaina. The report also concluded that the afternoon fire was a reignition of the morning fire.

HE deeply regrets that its operations contributed to the fire that ignited in the morning. Confronted by an extraordinary weather event and a chaotic situation, HE employees brought their best efforts to their jobs. The company has looked closely at its protocols and actions that day and has made many changes in its operations and resilience strategies to ensure it fulfills its commitment to keep the public safe, especially in extreme weather events, which are becoming more frequent and severe.

Consistent with previous reports published by the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) and the state Attorney General, the reports issued by the Maui Fire Department and the ATF also make clear that the devastation in Lahaina resulted from a combination of many factors and the actions of many parties. Wildfires are a statewide and emerging national problem whose causes are rooted in climate change, history, and land management. Reducing the risk will require an all-hands approach.

HE is doing its part by continuing to strengthen the resilience of the electric system. The company has already taken significant steps to reduce the potential for wildfires, even before these reports were released. As part of its Wildfire Safety Strategy and broader resilience efforts, HE is making more than $110 million in investments in 2024 to strengthen electric infrastructure against extreme weather conditions, implement enhanced vegetation management that falls under the utility's purview, and deploy devices to help prevent wildfires. On July 1, 2024, the company launched its Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program, which may be used as a last line of defense to help prevent utility-related wildfires. In standing up the PSPS program, HE has seen that coordination with critical service providers and emergency responders and providing advance notice to the public are essential elements to ensure public safety.

HE is installing 78 AI-enabled fire detection cameras and 52 weather stations and sharing data and access with fire departments and other agencies. As a 132-year-old company and family of employees deeply rooted in Hawai'i, HE is committed to being here for Lahaina, Maui, and the entire state for the long term. The global settlement agreement in principle reached in August is an important milestone in the collaborative work to support the state's recovery. As the company moves forward, it will continue to work with all parties to understand what happened and to make communities safer in a changing environment.
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