Hawaiian Electric says monitors in place for red flag warning

Hawaiian Electric said it is taking proactive steps to safely “keep the lights on” during the current red flag warning for the leeward areas of all isles.

The company says it has stationed active monitors to physically survey electrical infrastructure in more than 30 areas identified as high wildfire risk on Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii island to help ensure safe and reliable service.

Additionally, the company plans to disable automatic circuit reclose systems, and will not re-energize lines that trip during high winds until they can be inspected.

The National Weather Service issued the red flag warning at about 4 p.m. on Wednesday for the leeward side of all Hawaiian islands due to the combination of gusts up to 40 to 50 mph, low relative humidity, and dry fuels. The warning remains in effect until 6 p.m. today.

Hawaiian Electric said it continues to collaborate with the Hawaii Department of Defense and state and county emergency management officials to minimize wildfire risk and support public safety on the islands that it serves.

Some of these actions may result in extended outages for some customers.

Maui County, meanwhile, said National Guard members are positioned at observation points in high-risk areas of West and Central Maui and Upcountry to monitor conditions. The Maui Fire Department has also increased personnel in West and Central Maui, and has repositioned a CH-47 Chinook helicopter with a 2,000-gallon water bucket on Maui.

To report a downed line or power outage, the public should call Hawaiian Electric at 1-855-304-1212, or call 911 if it’s an emergency.