Maui Emergency Chief Steps Down Following Explanation for Not Activating Sirens During Devastating Fire

Maui Emergency Management Agency Chief Resigns

Maui Emergency Management Agency Chief Herman Andaya has resigned, citing health reasons. This comes after his decision to not use emergency sirens to alert residents about a deadly fire on the island. Andaya defended his decision during a press conference, stating that the sirens are typically used for tsunami warnings and would not have been appropriate for the fire situation. Instead, alerts were sent out through text messages, radio, and TV.

Mayor Accepts Resignation and Plans to Fill Position

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen has accepted the resignation of a key position holder, Anday, effective immediately. The mayor acknowledges the seriousness of the crisis they are currently facing and plans to fill the position as soon as possible. An announcement regarding the new appointment is expected soon.

Andaya Defends Decision Not to Sound Alarm

In a recent news report, Maui Emergency Operations Chief Herman Andaya was questioned by a reporter regarding his decision not to sound the alarm on Maui. Andaya defended his decision, stating that the public is trained to seek higher ground if the sirens were to sound. He suggested that if the sirens had gone off, people would have been at risk of going into the fire.

Criticism Faced by Andaya for Absence During Wildfires

The article reports on criticism faced by Andaya, the emergency management chief, for being absent from Maui when wildfires broke out on the island. It is revealed that Andaya was at a conference at a resort in Oahu when the fires started, and he checked into the Alohilani Resort in Waikiki a day before the fires began and checked out two days later. This information was obtained from receipts obtained by Hawaii News Now.

Investigation Ordered into Wildfire Cause

Governor Josh Green of Hawaii has ordered an investigation into the cause of the recent wildfires on the island. He clarified that it is not a criminal probe. The death toll from the fires has reached 111, including children. However, only about 40% of the affected area has been searched, and over 1,000 people are still missing. Video footage suggests that some of the fires may have started from downed power lines.

Power Line Sparked Fire in Rural Town

A security camera at the Maui Bird Conservation Center captured footage of a power line sparking a fire in the woods. The conservation center is located in the rural town of Makawao, around 30 miles away from Lahaina, where a large fire destroyed much of the historic city.

Multiple Fires Reported on Maui

Last week, multiple fires were reported on the island of Maui in Hawaii. The first fire, known as the Makawao fire, was sparked on Monday and Tuesday. Prior to the fires, the island experienced strong winds from a hurricane that was located hundreds of miles offshore. Although the Makawao fire did not reach the town of Lahaina, it was one of the many fires that eventually reached the town, which has a population of 13,000.