Hawaii AG Subpoenas Maui Agencies in Deadly Wildfire Investigation

Subpoenas aim to gather critical facts for a comprehensive analysis of the fire's unfolding, amid scrutiny over emergency response and water supply issues.

Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez has issued subpoenas to three Maui agencies - the Maui Emergency Management Agency, the County of Maui Department of Public Works, and the County of Maui Department of Water Supply - as part of an ongoing investigation into the deadly wildfires in August that killed at least 100 people and caused over $5.5 billion in damage.
The subpoenas are aimed at gathering 'critical facts' from these key stakeholders to advance the first phase of the investigation, which includes a comprehensive scientific analysis of how the fire unfolded.
The Maui Emergency Management Agency has faced criticism for its decision not to sound emergency sirens during the fires. Its former head, Herman Andaya, resigned shortly after the fires.
The Department of Water Supply has also been scrutinized for a possible loss of pressure in the water system as the fires spread, which could have affected the ability of firetrucks to contain the blaze.
The investigation, which is not currently criminal in nature, is being assisted by the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing fire safety risks. FSRI has conducted over 100 interviews and reviewed over 1,000 personal videos and images related to the wildfires.