CBS Evening News
Maui officials face questions over wildfire response
The blaze that engulfed Lahaina was the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century. Weeks later, Maui officials are facing questions over how they responded to the fires. Jonathan Vigliotti has the story.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTx0-qpXe5I
Fateful decision in Maui: Firefighters left the scene, blaze began its deadly march unchallenged
The response of Maui firefighters is one of several areas of scrutiny. Island officials had been warned about the high fire risk to Lahaina but did little to address it. And Hawaiian Electric, the utility company, had no plan to cut off electricity ahead of the extreme fire weather, reducing the risk of sparking power lines, which is a standard procedure in California.
By early afternoon, the winds were still raging, Juan said. But between 1 and 2 p.m., the few firetrucks that had remained on the hillside left, both Advinculas said.
“Why are they going?” Juan remembered asking his wife, as he looked out the oversize windows in his family’s second-story living room. “They need to watch the embers and stuff. Hopefully it doesn’t fly off.”