Hawaiian Electric is urging residents statewide to prepare for wildfire season as the islands enter the dry season with potentially less rainfall ahead. Multiple news outlets reported on the utility company’s safety recommendations and ongoing infrastructure improvements to reduce wildfire risks.
- HECO recommends clearing dry vegetation around homes, trimming tree branches away from power lines, and cleaning gutters of flammable materials
- Residents should sign up for emergency alerts, monitor weather conditions during high wind periods, and build emergency kits with water, food, medications, and battery-operated devices
- The utility company has begun replacing 19 wooden poles along Honoapiʻilani Highway in Lahaina with composite poles designed to withstand high winds
- Summer projects include pole replacements on Oʻahu’s Waiʻanae Coast along Farrington Highway and upgrades in Waimea and Kawaihae on Hawaiʻi Island
- In 2025, Hawaiian Electric replaced 1,650 poles, upgraded 850 poles, and trimmed vegetation along 2,334 miles of circuits (Maui Now)
- The company has installed 144 AI-assisted fire detection cameras, 101 weather stations, and hired a staff meteorologist (Maui Now)
Sources
- Aol: HECO urges residents to take wildfire safety measures
- Maui Now: Hawaiian Electric encourages customers to prepare for wildfire conditions in coming months
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