In the wake of the devastating Maui fires last month, lawyers are holding cable TV and phone companies responsible alongside the Hawaiian Electric Company. The tragic incident killed 115 residents and destroyed over 2,000 structures. The suit alleges that cable and telecom companies overloaded power poles, which led to their breaking during high winds, consequently igniting the deadly fire.
A class action was previously filed against Hawaiian Electric and Maui County. The plaintiff’s new findings prompted an appeal to include various telecommunications companies and landowners in the case. Their lawsuit seeks both damages and preventive measures.
Evidence collected points toward an over-tensioned cable system, causing power poles to lean and snap. Photos show no slack in the cables, contributing to the poles’ vulnerability during high winds.
Besides the electric utilities, the Maui wildfire lawsuit blames other parties for the wildfire. Falling power poles ignited flammable vegetation that had not been adequately managed. Landowners are being criticized for not maintaining this vegetation. The county is under scrutiny for not sounding sirens and inadequate vegetation management.
While Hawaiian Electric admitted to starting a fire on August 8, they passed the blame to county firefighters for declaring the fire contained prematurely. Maui County, in turn, places the responsibility squarely on Hawaiian Electric for not shutting off power. The lawsuit emphasizes the utility’s duty to maintain its equipment and ensure line safety.
Various stakeholders, including Charter Communications and Hawaiian Electric, refrained from commenting on the ongoing litigation.
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