Maui County Suing Maui Electric Company, Hawaiian Electric Company

Maui County says it has filed a lawsuit against local electric companies over damage caused by the devastating Maui wildfires, including ones in Lahaina and Kula.

The lawsuit alleges that Maui Electric Company, Limited, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc., and Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. acted negligently by failing to power down their electrical equipment despite a National Weather Service red flag warning on Aug. 7.

A red flag warning, according to the National Weather Service, means "warm temperatures, very low humidities, and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger."