Search and recovery team members check charred buildings and cars in the aftermath of the Maui Fires in Lahaina, West Maui, Hawaii, August 17, 2023.
"We were surprised and disappointed that the County of Maui rushed to court even before completing its own investigation," Hawaiian Electric CEO Shelee Kimura said in a statement Sunday.
The small fire near the downed poles spread into a field near Lahaina Intermediate School.
The Maui County Fire Department responded to the morning fire and declared it had been extinguished, according to the company's account of events leading up to the wildfires.
Hawaiian Electric said the power had been off for hours when the crew witnessed that second fire in the field.
Persons:
Shelee Kimura, Kimura
Organizations:
Electric, Lahaina Intermediate School, Maui County Fire Department, Hawaiian
Locations:
Maui, Lahaina , West Maui, Hawaii, Maui County, Lahaina