Is THIS the moment Maui's killer fires started?

Is THIS the moment Maui’s killer fires started? Powerline downed during storm appears to spark forest fire on night of August 7 when island’s first fires were reported, security footage shows as death toll reaches 111

• The powerline appeared to be downed by a tree near Makawao on August 7
• It comes as Maui’s death toll reached 111, with only nine victims identified

A powerline downed during a storm might have caused the first wildfire reported on the Hawaiian island of Maui, footage shows.

The video, captured at the Maui Bird Conservation Center, near Makawao, appears to show a bright flash in the woods at the exact time ten sensors recorded a significant incident in Hawaiian Electric’s grid on August 7.

Jennifer Pribble, a senior research coordinater at the center, described the footage of the flash on Instagram and said: ‘I think that is when a tree is falling on a power line.’

It comes as the island’s death toll reached 111, with only nine victims identified, according to Maui Police.

While the Makawao fire had nothing to do with the inferno that devastated the historic town of Lahaina, it was the first of several reported on Maui on August 7.

A powerline downed during a storm might have caused the first wildfire reported on the Hawaiian island of Maui, footage shows

The video, captured at the Maui Bird Conservation Center, near Makawao, appears to show a bright flash in the woods (pictured)

Whisker Labs, a company that uses a sensor network to monitor electric grids across the United States, told the Washington Post the bright light was probably an ‘arc flash’, which happens when a power line ‘faults’.

The powerline releases power, usually through sparks, when it has come into contact with something, according to the company.

‘This is strong confirmation — based on real data — that utility grid faults were likely the ignition source for multiple wildfires on Maui,’ Bob Marshall, the founder and CEO of Whisker Labs, told the Washington Post.

On Monday, Lahainan locals blamed downed power lines and unkempt brush for the devastating wildfire that decimated their historic town.

One couple has already filed a lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric Industries – which serves 95 percent of Hawaii‘s 1.4 million residents – and its companies HECO, MECO and HELCO.

The pair claimed that the power companies ‘inexcusably kept their power lines energized during forecasted high fire danger conditions’, according to Fox News.

Footage recorded at 6.43am by local Shane Treu also showed the flames and a downed power line. ‘This is right across from my house, power line went down,’ he says. 

Jennifer Pribble, a senior research coordinater at the center, described the footage of the flash on Instagram and said: ‘I think that is when a tree is falling on a power line’

New video posted on August 8 at 6.43am by a local Lahaina resident shows a downed power line and flames

READ MORE: Miracle in Maui: SIXTY wildfire survivors were rescued from inside single house as death toll climbs to 111 and 1,300 remain unaccounted for

But the couple, Monica and Rede, allege that the National Weather Service had issued a High Wind Watch and Red Flag Warning which cautioned energized power lines could increase the rate in which the fires could spread. 

They claim that by acting improperly during the devastating fires, the power companies ’caused loss of life, serious injuries, destruction of hundreds of homes and businesses, displacement of thousands of people, and damage to many of Hawaii’s historic and cultural sites.’

The suit said: ‘Scores of people burned to death. Other victims suffered severe burns, smoke inhalation and additional serious injuries.’

Hawaiian Electric have continued to say they will not ‘comment on pending litigation.

A spokesman added: ‘Our immediate focus is on supporting emergency response efforts on Maui and restoring power for our customers and communities as quickly as possible. 

‘At this early stage, the cause of the fire has not been determined and we will work with the state and county as they conduct their review.’

It comes amid questions being asked about how prepared authorities were for the catastrophe, despite the islands’ exposure to natural hazards such as tsunamis, earthquakes and violent storms. 

Residents were forced to flee on foot after seemingly receiving no alert from the state’s emergency warning systems.

The disaster in Lahaina is the deadliest wildfire the US has faced in the past century as the death toll surpassed 2018’s Camp Fire in California, which virtually wiped the small town of Paradise off the map and killed 86 people.

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