cnn national correspondent mike valerio is joining me right now. mike, all this comes as hawaiian electric is now acknowledging that some evidence involving the cause of the lahaina fire may have been compromised. reporter: exactly. and that s important, fred, because a cause of the catastrophe has not been determined officially as of yet. maui county is saying a spark from a snapped power line, most likely started the fire. so preserving evidence of electrical equipment from a power substation near lahaina is key. the utility says it is not to blame for equipment moved in a fire zone, specifically writing, quote, hawaiian electric is taking reasonable steps to preserve its own property that was damaged or destroyed because of these devastating fires. however, state, local and federal government actors and others are moving forward to fight the fires and to clear out debris and other items that impede that effort. it is, therefore, possible, and even likely that the actions of these