Official investigation reports and legal findings

Re-energized Broken Power Lines Caused Deadly Maui Wildfires, ATF and Fire Department Report

Oct 2, 2024, 11:54 PM

A new investigation by the Maui Fire Department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), released on Wednesday, has concluded that re-energized broken power lines were the primary cause of the deadly August 2023 wildfires in Maui, Hawaii. The fires, which devastated the historic town of Lahaina and resulted in the deaths of at least 102 people, erupted when Hawaiian Electric re-energized broken power lines, igniting vegetation around utility poles. The initial brushfire was believed to have been extinguished by firefighters but later reignited due to the re-energized broken power lines. Contributing factors included overgrown vegetation near the utility infrastructure. Hawaiian Electric has issued a statement in response to the report released by the Maui Fire Department.