By David R. Baker | Bloomberg
In light of the devastating fire that destroyed Lahaina last week, Hawaii Governor Josh Green has expressed his willingness to implement a temporary ban on property sales to prevent permanent displacement of residents.
With the death toll increasing to 99, Governor Green has already approached the state’s attorney general to discuss the possibility of imposing a moratorium on property sales in the historic seaside town. Prior to the fire, Maui was already struggling with a severe housing shortage and unaffordable prices. Governor Green is committed to preventing opportunistic developers from taking advantage of the aftermath of the fire.
See more: At least 99 people were killed in Maui’s wildfires. Officials worry the death toll will double
During a recent press conference updating the situation, Governor Green warned, “You will be pretty poorly informed if you try to steal land from our people and then build here. For my part, I will try to restrict any non-residents from purchasing land until we overcome this crisis and decide the future of Lahaina.”
Meanwhile, search teams accompanied by 20 cadaver dogs are diligently scouring the town for remains. So far, they have surveyed 25% of the burnt area. Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. has reported that 80% of West Maui residents who lost power during the fire will have their electricity restored by the end of the day, excluding properties destroyed by the flames.
Stock Plunge
Facing potential liability for the fire, Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. experienced a sharp decline in its stock value. Several lawsuits have already been filed against the company. CEO Shelee Kimura, speaking alongside Governor Green at the press conference, confirmed that the company will conduct its own investigation, as will the state. While no specific cause for the fires has been named by government officials yet, suspicions have arisen regarding the company’s equipment, particularly in light of the damaged utility poles, transformers, and destroyed substation found across West Maui.
See more: Interactive Maui wildfire map: Before and after images of Lahaina show scale of devastation
Kimura emphasized the importance of understanding and preventing future incidents, stating, “We all believe it’s important to know what happened, and we all believe it’s important to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
The initial alarm was raised on August 8 when Maui’s fire department received reports of a 3-acre fire on the eastern edge of Lahaina. Evacuation orders were issued for the immediate area due to high winds. By 9 a.m., the fire was contained, although a downed power line caused one street to remain closed. Power outages also limited firefighters’ ability to pump water, affecting even the Red Cross shelter set up for evacuees.
‘Apparent Flareup’
Later that afternoon, an apparent flareup of the same fire prompted the closure of the Lahaina Bypass. Initially, residents were advised to shelter in place, but evacuation orders were subsequently issued as the fire spread. While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, a lawsuit filed on behalf of the victims alleges that the fire originated near one of Hawaiian Electric’s electrical substations. The lawsuit claims negligence on the part of the utility for not shutting off power in the area ahead of the high winds.
Hawaiian Electric declined to comment specifically on the substation when asked about the lawsuit, instead focusing on restoration efforts, damage assessment, and local community support. CEO Kimura acknowledged that shutting down power lines as a preventive measure remains a controversial topic, as it is perceived as causing hardship.
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