Maui Emergency Chief Clarifies Absence of Sirens Warning Residents About Rapidly Approaching Fire

The Decision to Not Activate Emergency Sirens During Maui Wildfires

The Emergency Management Agency chief of Maui, Herman Andaya, explained during a press conference that the island's emergency sirens were not activated during the recent wildfires near Lahaina. Andaya stated that the decision was made to avoid causing panic and potentially leading residents to run towards the fire. Instead, alerts were sent out through text messages, radio, and TV. Andaya noted that the emergency sirens are typically used for tsunami warnings, which instruct Hawaiians to seek higher ground, but in this case, it would have directed them towards the fire.

No Sirens on the Mountainside

According to The New York Post, the emergency chief of a certain area explained that they did not sound the siren during a fire because it would have led people towards the mountains, where the fire was spreading. The chief also mentioned that there were no sirens on the mountainside, so even if they had sounded the siren, it would not have saved the people in that area.

Survivors Question the Lack of Sirens

During a press conference, a reporter mentioned that some survivors of a recent fire in Hawaii believe that their family members could have survived if emergency sirens had alerted them to the fast-moving fire. Hawaii Governor Josh Green, who was present at the press conference, defended the actions of someone named Andaya after the reporter's questions. Governor Green stated that he would have also expected a tsunami if he had heard the sirens.

Thorough Review by Hawaii Attorney General's Office

The Hawaii Attorney General's office will be conducting a thorough review of the decisions made by officials in relation to the recent wildfires. The death toll from the wildfires has reached 111, including children, and there are still over 1,000 people missing. Only 38% of the affected area has been searched so far. Video evidence suggests that some of the fires may have been caused by downed power lines.

Power Line Sparking Fire Captured on Video

The Maui Bird Conservation Center in Makawao, Hawaii, captured footage of a power line sparking a fire in the nearby woods. This incident occurred last Monday. The conservation center is located approximately 30 miles away from Lahaina, a historic city that was severely affected by a massive fire.

Multiple Fires on Maui

Last week, multiple fires were reported on the island of Maui, with the Makawao fire being the first. The fires were preceded by strong winds from a hurricane that was located hundreds of miles offshore. Although the Makawao fire did not reach Lahaina, it was one of the fires that started on Monday and Tuesday and eventually reached the town, which has a population of 13,000.