KAPOLEI, Hawaii (KHON2) — There was a brush fire in West Oahu that was sparked by a utility pole on Thursday morning.
It was a small blaze, but some said it could have had much larger consequences — concerns over wildfire safety remain top-of-mind as Hawaii approaches the two-year mark since the tragedy in Lahaina.
It was a disturbing sight in Kapolei on Thursday morning when the top of a utility pole started sparking while flames and smoke emanated from near its base.
Firefighters were able to get the flames under control before they spread, but the fear was not doused as quickly for many residents.
“This is no longer theoretical. Lahaina happened and that was loss of 100 lives. It was a loss of and displacement of thousands of our community members and is reverberating across Maui and the state, and billions of dollars in damage,” said Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board chair Makana Paris said.
Hawaiian Electric’s Public Safety Power Shutoff program — put in place after the deadly Lahaina fire — was not activated and questions are being raised.
“Obviously, the public has a right to feel concerned. And then when we see videos like this and nobody catching it, that this was occurring, it feeds into people’s rights to have concern. I’m concerned,” said Rep. Darius Kila.
Folks were grateful that the blaze was contained and told KHON2 that if conditions and the wind were blowing hard enough, the situation had the potential to become another Lahaina-scale event.
The area neighborhood board chair said residents are demanding answers and action from utility companies.
“Are they cutting down the brush, are they pushing back the trees, like what’s going on? Because it’s not clear. And these brush fires are still continuing to happen in our community. So I think our community members are not feeling safe or hopeful at this point,” Paris said.
Rep. Kila said the situation could have been much worse, especially given how dry and fire-prone the region currently is.
“In a perfect storm, a perfect set of conditions, you can create the worst scenario. And luckily today that wasn’t that. But just last week, imagine if we were going through the wildfires in Nanakuli and somehow a transformer blew near the brush fire. You are just creating more fire,” Rep. Kila said.
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Hawaiian Electric said in a statement:
“We appreciate the fast response by the Honolulu Fire Department. The equipment has been repaired and we’re investigating the cause.”
Darren Pai, Hawaiian Electric external communications manager