CBN's Operation Blessing Ramps Up Relief Efforts to Aid Maui Fire Victims

Maui County sued Hawaiian Electric Company Thursday over the fires that devastated the town of Lahaina, saying the utility negligently failed to shut off power despite exceptionally high winds and dry conditions.

Witness accounts and video indicated that sparks from power lines ignited fires as utility poles snapped in the winds which were driven by a passing hurricane. 

The Aug. 8 fires killed at least 115 people and left an unknown number of others missing, making them the deadliest fires in the U.S. in more than a century.

Hawaii Electric said in a statement it is "very disappointed that Maui County chose this litigious path while the investigation is still unfolding."

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Meanwhile, CBN's Operation Blessing (OB) is on the scene, continuing relief efforts by working with local churches and providing supplies to those whose lives were devastated by the fire.

OB is providing long-term relief items including water filtration systems, tents, clothing, hygiene supplies, tarps, lanterns, generators, grills and propane for cooking, etc. to help displaced people survive.  

The people who live on the island are very grateful.

"Just to see people like Operation Blessing is truly a silver lining," one resident said. "Just to see people come together, just extending their heart is a feeling that I cannot describe."

The international charity relief organization has also posted updates about its relief efforts on social media. Supplies were recently brought from the big island of Hawaii to a local distribution center on the island of Maui. Also, water filtration systems were brought to another Maui community so residents could have clean drinking water. 

Water sources in Lahaina, #Maui, are contaminated after #wildfires destroyed the community, forcing families to rely on bottled water. Our team is providing water filtration systems, hygiene supplies, grills, lanterns, & more—thanks to YOU!https://t.co/PSIKCAAFsR#HawaiiFires

— Operation Blessing (@operationbless) August 19, 2023

Operation Blessing has also requested prayers for Maui's fire survivors and for all the organizations involved in helping get much needed supplies to them.