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 didn害羞草研究所檛 immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Had the utility heeded weather service 害羞草研究所渨arnings and de-energized their powerlines during the predicted high-wind gusts, this destruction could have been avoided,害羞草研究所� the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit said the utility had a duty 害羞草研究所渢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.害羞草研究所�

The utility knew that high winds 害羞草研究所渨ould topple power poles, knock down power lines, and ignite vegetation,害羞草研究所� the lawsuit said. 害羞草研究所淒efendants also knew that if their overhead electrical equipment ignited a fire, it would spread at a critically rapid rate.害羞草研究所�

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 害羞草研究所渟evere and catastrophic losses 害羞草研究所� could have easily been prevented害羞草研究所� if Hawaiian Electric had a similar shutoff plan.

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