Is THIS the moment Maui’s killer fires started? Powerline downed during storm appears to spark forest fire on night of August 7 when island’s first fires were reported, security footage shows as death toll reaches 111
A power line that went out during a storm may have sparked the first wildfire reported on the Hawaiian island of Maui, images show.
The video, taken at the Maui Bird Conservation Center, near Makawao, appears to show a bright flash in the forest just as ten sensors registered a major incident in Hawaiian Electric’s power grid on Aug. 7.
Jennifer Pribble, a senior research coordinator at the center, described the images from the flash on Instagram and said, “I think that’s when a tree falls on a power line.”
It comes as the island’s death toll reached 111, with only nine victims identified, according to the Maui Police Department.
While the Makawao fire had nothing to do with the inferno that devastated the historic city of Lahaina, it was the first of several reports from Maui on August 7.
A power line that went out during a storm may have sparked the first wildfire reported on the Hawaiian island of Maui, images show
The video, shot at the Maui Bird Conservation Center, near Makawao, appears to show a bright flash in the forest (pictured)
Whisker Labs, a company that uses a sensor network to monitor power grids in the United States, told the Washington Post the bright light was likely an ‘arc flash’, which happens when a power line exhibits ‘failures’.
The powerline releases power, usually through sparks, when it comes into contact with something, the company said.
“This is strong confirmation – based on real data – that power grid failures were likely the source of ignition for multiple wildfires on Maui,” Bob Marshall, the founder and CEO of Whisker Labs, told the Washington Post.
On Monday, locals in Lahainan blamed broken power lines and unkempt undergrowth for the devastating wildfire that decimated their historic city.
A lawsuit has already been filed against one couple Hawaiian Electric Industries – which serves 95 percent of Hawaii‘s 1.4 million inhabitants – and its companies HECO, MECO and HELCO.
The pair alleged that the power companies “inexcusably kept their power lines energized during the predicted high-risk conditions,” according to Fox news.
Footage recorded at 6:43 a.m. by local Shane Treu also showed the flames and a downed power line. “This is right in front of my house, the power line went out,” he says.
Jennifer Pribble, a senior research coordinator at the center, described the images of the flash on Instagram, saying: ‘I think that’s when a tree falls on a power line’
New video posted at 6:43 a.m. Aug. 8 by a local Lahaina resident shows a broken power line and flames
But the couple, Monica and Rede, claim 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.
Pictured: An aerial view of Lahaina, which was devastated by wildfires last week
PictureD: A wildfire burns on the island of Maui last week near an intersection in Lahaina, Hawaii, in an image provided by the County of Maui
“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.”
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 Lahaina 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.