HONOLULU (AP) As unpredictable wildfires roared across Maui last August, the head of the emergency management agency dragged his heels about returning to th
The state Attorney General’s Office report Wednesday included that the head of the Maui County Emergency Management Agency was off island and delayed returning despite the crisis and that a breakdown in communications left authorities in the dark and residents without emergency alerts.
Hawaiian Electric did not send a representative to check on fallen power equipment until hours after fire officials alerted the utility, the report says.
County of Maui Mayor Richard Bissen offered a statement after receiving the state Attorney General and the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) Maui Wildfire P
Despite nearly every Maui Fire Department staff and vehicle resources being deployed during the wildfires, the emergency response "did not break but rather found itself outmatched by the extreme weather and fire conditions."