Search and recovery team members check charred buildings and cars in the aftermath of the Maui Fires in Lahaina, West Maui, Hawaii, August 17, 2023. Yuki Iwamura | AFP | Getty ImagesHawaiian Electric is pushing back against a lawsuit filed by Maui County last week blaming the utility for triggering the wildfires that have killed more than 100 people, caused billions of dollars in damages and left hundreds missing.The utility said power lines toppled by high winds likely caused the morning brush fire in Lahaina but electricity had been off for hours when a second fire occurred that afternoon.Hawaiian Electric’s stock soared more than 40% on Monday.”We were surprised and disappointed that the County of Maui rushed to court even before completing its own investigation,” Hawaiian Electric CEO Shelee Kimura said in a statement Sunday. “We believe the complaint is factually and legally irresponsible.””Unfortunately, the county’s lawsuit may leave us no choice in the legal system but to show its responsibility for what happened that day,” Kimura said.Hawaiian Electric said power lines appear to have caused the brush fire that started at 6:30 a.m. local time at the intersection of Lahainaluna Road and Hookahua Street in the historic town. The small fire near the downed poles spread into a field near Lahaina Intermediate School.The Maui County Fire Department responded to the morning fire and declared it had been extinguished, according to the company’s account of events leading up to the wildfires.Hawaiian Electric crews repairing the downed poles later saw a fire around 3 p.m. about 75 yards away in the field near Lahaina Intermediate School …
