What Caused the Maui Fires?
Summary from AllSides News Team
As the death toll from Maui's wildfires continues to rise, many are looking to assign blame.
Possible Causes: Video shows fires starting as trees fell on power lines, leading some to blame Hawaii's electric utility equipment for the initial ignition. A firm that monitors grid sensors also reported dozens of electrical disruptions in the hours before the fires. Hawaiian Electric is facing class-action lawsuits for purported negligence in leaving the power on during the storm. In addition, scientists and farmers are blaming highly flammable, invasive plant species for helping the fires spread.
Climate Angle? A 2022 study from the International Journal of Wildland Fire suggests that wildfires spread may more quickly because of drought and heat amplified by greenhouse gas emissions. Hawaii is currently in its dry season.
How the Media Covered It: Outlets across the spectrum agreed that invasive plants and irresponsible power grid management seem to be the fire's main catalysts. Many left-rated outlets, including CNN, The Guardian, Associated Press (all Lean Left bias), and HuffPost (Left), also suggested that climate change made the fires worse. One opinion from Washington Examiner (Lean Right) accused Democrats who blamed climate change for the fires of exploiting "tragedy to push their climate change agendas," and said the cause was instead "failure to adequately manage invasive species." Outlets across the spectrum, including New York Times (Lean Left) and New York Post (Lean Right), highlighted reports about the flammable invasive plants.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Why climate change can't be blamed entirely for the Maui wildfires
Climate change may have amplified the conditions that led to the deadly inferno on the Hawaiian island of Maui but it cannot be blamed entirely.
An unknown spark quickly set parts of the island ablaze on Aug. 8, sending flames fueled by a combination of strong trade winds and a landscape parched by drought conditions through the historic Lahaina district and people's homes.
MORE: Maui wildfires live updates: Governor launches 'comprehensive review' as death toll rises
On Sunday, Hawaii Gov. Joshua Green likened the level of devastation that occurred...
From the Center
Maui Wildfires Possible Cause Revealed in Video, Data
Some of the devastating wildfires that destroyed much of the Hawaiian island of Maui may have been caused by damage to power lines.
Video footage and electricity grid data have been found to correlate, indicating that the first fire on the island may have begun due to a tree falling onto power lines.
A security camera at the Maui Bird Conservation Center in the eastern region of Upcountry, captured a flash in the woods near the center at around 11 p.m. local time on August 7, followed by a blaze churning out...
From the Right
Democrats' climate distraction won’t stop Hawaii wildfires
President Joe Biden can’t be bothered to disrupt his beach vacation to even comment on, let alone visit, the most deadly wildfires in over 100 years, but that didn’t stop other Democrats from blaming the carnage in Maui on climate change.
"Heartbreaking fires in Hawaii! Scientists are clear that climate chaos wreaking havoc on ecosystems everywhere is the new norm," Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) posted. "We need to take action immediately or else it will get even worse."
"The wildfires raging across Hawaii are a devastating view of our planet...
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