Hawaiian couple are suing four energy companies for keeping their lines live despite ‘high fire hazard’ warnings before ferocious fires burned through historic Lahaina town, leveling it and killing at least 96 people as ‘dozens burned’

A Hawaiian couple is suing four power companies for keeping their lines live despite “high fire hazard” warnings issued before the blazes of fire swept through the historic city of Lahaina, killing at least 96 people.

Monica and Rede Eder, who own a house in the seaside town that was razed to the ground by the wildfires, have filed the lawsuit “on behalf of a class and subclasses of all persons who find themselves in the same situation” – as they say ” dozens of people have been burned’. till death’.

The suit was made against Hawaiian Electric Industries – which serves 95 percent of Hawaii’s 1.4 million residents – and its companies HECO, MECO and HELCO.

The couple alleges that the power companies “inexcusably kept their power lines energized during predicted high-risk conditions,” Fox news reports.

It comes amid questions being raised about how prepared authorities were for the catastrophe, despite the islands’ exposure to natural hazards such as tsunamis, earthquakes and violent storms.

Residents were forced to flee on foot after seemingly receiving no warning from the state’s emergency alert systems.

The disaster is the deadliest wildfire the US has faced in the past century, as the death toll surpassed California’s 2018 Camp Fire, which virtually wiped the small town of Paradise off the map and killed 86 people.

Monica and Rede’s lawsuit alleges that the National Weather Service issued a High Wind Watch and Red Flag Warning warning that live power lines could increase the rate at which the fires could spread.

They claim that by acting improperly during the devastating fires, the energy companies “caused the loss of life, serious injuries, the destruction of hundreds of homes and businesses, the displacement of thousands of people, and damage to many of Hawaii’s historic and cultural sites.” causes’.

The suit read: “Many people have been burned. Other victims suffered severe burns, smoke inhalation and other serious injuries.”

Hawaiian Electric continued to say they will not comment on pending litigation.

A spokesperson added, “Our immediate focus is on supporting emergency relief efforts on Maui and restoring power to our customers and communities as quickly as possible.

“At this early stage, the cause of the fire has not been determined and we will work with the state and county in conducting their investigation.”

LippSmith LLP and other law firms also filed a class action lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric, alleging that the downed power lines caused the fire and that company officials “inexcusably kept their power lines energized” despite fire warnings.

States such as California, which has a high rate of wildfires, often employ a “public power shutdown plan,” deliberately cutting off electricity to areas where major wind events could start fires.

It comes as the death toll in Hawaii ticked toward 100 on Sunday, fueling criticism that government inaction contributed to the heavy loss of life.

President Joe Biden has been slammed for refusing to comment on the rising death toll when he spent two hours on a beach in Delaware on Sunday.

The 80-year-old was seen reclining on a lounger on Rehoboth Beach, near his vacation home in the state. He previously attended mass at St Edmond’s Catholic Church in the seaside town.

As Biden left the beach, the White House correspondent for Bloomberg asked about his response to the wildfires that killed 93 people.

“No comment,” the president replied.

Celebrities, including Paris Hilton, have also come under fire for vacationing in Maui, despite Hawaii tourism officials begging visitors to leave to free up hotel rooms for homeless residents.

Oprah Winfrey’s camera crew was also denied access to an emergency shelter on Maui after attempting to bring a CBS crew into the facility where survivors continue to struggle in the aftermath of the fires.

At least 96 people were confirmed to have died as of Sunday evening, but officials warned the figure is likely to rise as recovery crews with cadaver dogs work their way through hundreds of homes and burnt-out vehicles in Lahaina.

The historic coastal town on the island of Maui was nearly destroyed by the fast-moving inferno early Wednesday morning, with survivors saying there had been no warnings.

When asked on Sunday why none of the island’s sirens had been activated, Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono said she would wait for the results of an investigation announced by the state’s attorney general.

“I’m not going to make excuses for this tragedy,” Hirono, a Democrat, told CNN’s “State of the Union.”

“As far as I’m concerned, we’re really focused on the need for rescue and, unfortunately, the location of more bodies.”

According to official estimates, more than 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed as the fire swept through Lahaina, causing $5.5 billion in damage and leaving thousands homeless.

“The remains we find are from a fire that melted metal,” said Maui Police Chief John Pelletier. “If we pick up the remains… they’ll fall apart.”

That made identification difficult, he added, and appealed to people with missing relatives to provide DNA samples that could speed up the process.

Pelletier said cadaver dogs still had a huge area to search in the hunt for what could still be hundreds of people missing.

“We’re going as fast as we can. Just so you know, three percent – that’s what the dogs were searched for,’ he said.