Maui County sued Hawaiian Electric Company on Thursday over the fires that devastated Lahaina, saying the utility negligently failed to shut off power despite exceptionally high winds and dry conditions.

Witness accounts and video indicated that sparks from power lines ignited fires as utility poles snapped in the winds, which were driven by a The Aug. 8 fire killed at least 115 people and left an unknown number of others missing.

A spokesperson for Hawaiian Electric didnB次元官网网址檛 immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Had the utility heeded weather service B次元官网网址渨arnings and de-energized their powerlines during the predicted high-wind gusts, this destruction could have been avoided,B次元官网网址� the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit said the utility had a duty B次元官网网址渢o properly maintain and repair the electric transmission lines, and other equipment including utility poles associated with their transmission of electricity, and to keep vegetation properly trimmed and maintained so as to prevent contact with overhead power lines and other electric equipment.B次元官网网址�

The utility knew that high winds B次元官网网址渨ould topple power poles, knock down power lines, and ignite vegetation,B次元官网网址� the lawsuit said. B次元官网网址淒efendants also knew that if their overhead electrical equipment ignited a fire, it would spread at a critically rapid rate.B次元官网网址�

The lawsuit notes other utilities, such as Southern California Edison Company, Pacific Gas & Electric, and San Diego Gas & Electric, have all implemented Public Safety Power Shutoffs during during high wind events and said the B次元官网网址渟evere and catastrophic losses B次元官网网址� could have easily been preventedB次元官网网址� if Hawaiian Electric had a similar shutoff plan.

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