According to a report from the Maui Fire Department (MFD) and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the August 8, 2023 wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii, was caused by a downed powerline.
As reported by the MFD, the wildfire, which became the deadliest in the U.S. in over a century, was triggered by an energized powerline breaking and contacting the ground, sparking vegetation.
The report also indicated that the fire, once contained, reignited later in the afternoon, causing further destruction to Lahaina.
The report concluded that while suppression efforts initially succeeded, undetected smoldering materials led to a secondary blaze hours later, reigniting in dry vegetation near a gully in Lahaina.
The investigation conducted by MFD and ATF determined that the August 8 fire began when an energized powerline broke, igniting vegetation along Lahainaluna Road.
Witness testimony and photographic evidence helped investigators conclude that the initial fire originated from sparks caused by the fallen powerline.
Molten material from the electrical equipment also ignited nearby vegetation, worsening the blaze.
Investigators also identified another ignition point at Utility Pole 25, where strong winds caused molten materials to fall into vegetation below.
Investigators determined that the afternoon fire was a rekindle of the morning blaze, which had initially been contained.
According to the report, smoldering materials likely shifted into a dry creek bed during fire suppression efforts, leading to the reignition.
The ATF noted that the rekindled fire spread rapidly due to the windy conditions and unextinguished embers from the morning phase of the fire.
This rekindle caused widespread devastation in Lahaina Town, which was significantly impacted by the wildfire.
The investigation into the Lahaina wildfire faced several challenges.
According to the report, the fire scene was not fully secured, and various investigators and companies accessed the area before ATF’s arrival on August 18, 2023.
This created some difficulty in preserving evidence.
Despite these obstacles, the MFD and ATF relied on a combination of physical evidence, eyewitness accounts, and video footage to form their conclusions.
Their investigation, conducted in several phases through mid-2024, ultimately identified the downed powerline and subsequent rekindle as the causes of the wildfire.
The August 8, 2023 Lahaina wildfire, as detailed in a joint report by the Maui Fire Department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, was caused by a broken, energized powerline.
The fire, initially contained, reignited hours later due to undetected smoldering debris, leading to further destruction in the area.
Investigators faced difficulties due to early access to the fire scene by various parties but were able to determine the origin and cause through eyewitness testimony, video evidence, and physical examination of the scene.