Sparks from broken power lines caused the deadly August 2023 wildfire in Maui, Hawaii, according to a new report published on Oct. 2 by the Maui County Department of Fire and Public Safety and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The deadly disaster on the island occurred when a fire sparked by reenergized broken power lines off Lahainaluna Road that was believed to have been extinguished in the morning by responding firefighters was rekindled in the afternoon, the Origin and Cause report found.
The “re-energization” of the broken utility lines “caused the ejection of molten metallic material (sparks) to fall to the base of pole 25, igniting the unmaintained vegetation below,” the report stated….