U.S. veterans are on a mission to assist first responders on Maui
U.S. Navy veteran Luke Schneider also participated in Fox & Friends Weekend, joining mainland firefighters to help raise money for Maui first responders evacuated by the August wildfires. talked about selling fire department coffee and T-shirts.
Hawaii’s attorney general on Monday blamed county officials, who forced investigators to issue subpoenas, for delays in releasing a key report on the deadly Maui wildfires.
The first phase of an independent investigation into the Aug. 8 fire that killed at least 101 people and destroyed much of historic Lahaina was expected to be announced this month. It will be released on April 17th instead.
The Fire Safety Institute was selected to provide scientific fire analysis and recommendations. According to the attorney general’s office, the company has so far sued the state for about $1.4 million.
Hawaii’s Lahaina wildfire could pose a danger to coral reef ecosystems
Attorney General Ann E. Lopez’s office said in a statement Monday that “the investigative team encountered unexpected delays in gathering key facts for review and has rescheduled the release of the Phase 1 report. “It had a direct impact on the day,” he said.
Investigators initially contacted the county directly for information, but “initial responses from the county were often slow and yielded less information than expected,” said Toni Schwartz, spokeswoman for the attorney general’s office. said in a follow-up email to The Associated Press.
“The purpose of this investigation is to ensure this tragedy never happens again,” she wrote.
Lopez’s office announced in November that it needed to issue three subpoenas to the Maui Emergency Management Agency, the Maui County Department of Public Works and the Maui County Water Department for documents related to the investigation.
“Maui County has stated that a subpoena will be required to obtain further information, including documents and interviews with county officials,” Lopez’s office said in a statement. “As a result, the Department is required to date to issue eight additional subpoenas for documents and 53 additional subpoenas for interviews to Maui County agencies and employees.”
Schwartz said investigators now have the information they need to develop a timeline and analyze what happened.
Maui County officials did not immediately return messages from The Associated Press seeking comment on the delay.
Hawaii’s attorney general has accused county officials of delaying the release of a report on the deadly Maui wildfires, forcing investigators to issue subpoenas. The report is scheduled to be released on April 17th. (Matthew Thayer/The Maui News via AP, File)
The first phase of the report will focus on the first 24 to 72 hours and aftermath of the deadliest wildfire in the United States in more than 100 years, Lopez said.
“While everyone wants quick answers, it is important that this investigation is thorough and accurate,” Lopez said. “An analysis of this scale cannot be rushed. We must consider the time required to ensure this science-based investigation is done correctly.”
Meanwhile, a number of lawsuits surrounding the fires have been remanded from U.S. district courts to state courts. Lawyers involved say this could result in a settlement agreement being reached more quickly.
One of those lawyers, James Bickerton, said he wasn’t confident the state could conduct a truly independent investigation.
“The state also shares responsibility and is litigated in these cases,” he said. “We believe that a truly independent investigation can only be conducted by plaintiffs and their attorneys.”
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More than seven months after the fire, thousands of people are still staying in hotels, looking for rental properties or waiting for long-term housing options.
Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said in an emotional speech Friday that he will prioritize housing, consider evacuation routes and increase the number of firefighters as communities recover.
Some of those who died in the fire were stuck in traffic while trying to leave Lahaina. Like many towns in Hawaii, it is sandwiched between the ocean and the mountains, with limited road access.
