Hawaiian Electric Strikes Out at Maui County Over Blame for Fire

Burned structures and cars are seen two months after a devastating wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Oct. 9, 2023.Photographer: Mario Tama/Getty Images

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By Robert Burnson

May 25, 2024 at 3:28 AM UTC

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Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. says it isn’t legally responsible for the devastating fire last year that razed the historic town of Lahaina — it was Maui County’s fault.

The embattled utility alleged in a counter-suit Friday in Hawaii state court that the local government caused the catastrophe by neglecting overgrown vegetation, failing to properly plan for an emergency and “by fumbling the emergency response” to the Aug. 8 blaze.