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Broken Power Lines Caused Maui Wildfires That Killed 102, ATF Confirms

Oct 3, 2024, 02:17 AM

A report released by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Maui Fire Department has confirmed that the deadly August 2023 wildfires in Maui were caused when Hawaiian Electric re-energized broken power lines, igniting vegetation around a utility pole. The wildfires began from an earlier brushfire, sparked by downed power lines, which firefighters believed they had extinguished but later reignited. The fires devastated the historic town of Lahaina, resulting in the deaths of at least 102 people and destroying over 2,200 structures, causing more than $5 billion in damages. Investigators noted that downed electrical lines and overgrown vegetation contributed to the rapid spread of the fires. Hawaiian Electric has issued a statement regarding the report.