Page 18 - Singleton Schreiber News Today

In the first moments of the Maui fires, when high winds brought down power poles, slapping electrified wires to the dry grass below, there was a reason the flames erupted all at once in long, neat rows -- those wires were bare, uninsulated metal that could spark on contact

Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada

Google street view images of poles taken before the fire show the bare wire.

This was a “preventable tragedy of epic proportions,” said attorney Paul Starita, lead counsel on three of the lawsuits.

Hawaiian Electric is facing a spate of new lawsuits that seek to hold it responsible for the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. The number of confirmed dead stands at 115, and the county expects that to rise.

By JENNIFER McDERMOTT, BERNARD CONDON and MICHAEL BIESECKER Associated Press In the first moments of the Maui fires, when high winds brought down power pole

Google street view images of poles taken before the fire show the bare wire.

The family of 79-year-old Lawrence "Buddy" Jantoc is suing Hawaiian Electric (HECO), claiming the utility is responsible for his death.

At least eight lawsuits have been filed against the utility over claims that the utility is responsible for the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century.

Utility industry news and analysis for energy professionals.