A Hawaiian couple is suing four power companies, accusing them of ignoring the high wind and weather warnings before the devastating wildfire that swept through Lahaina, leaving a mass grave in its wake.

(Video Credit: NBC News)

At least 114 are now confirmed dead, according to KITV. With over 1,000 still missing, authorities believe they could be recovering many, many more bodies as they comb through the smoldering remains.

Monica and Rede Eder, who owned a townhouse in Lahaina that was burned down in the wildfire are the ones spearheading the lawsuit, according to Fox News. The suit is being filed “on behalf of a class and subclasses of all persons similarly situated.” Thousands have been displaced by the fire.

The legal action is taking aim at Hawaiian Electric Industries, which is the parent company of HECO, MECO, and HELCO. The company serves 95 percent of Hawaii’s residents

The lawsuit contends that the electric companies ignored weather warnings and made the fateful decision to keep their power lines energized despite the dangerous conditions. The plaintiffs claim the companies “inexcusably kept their power lines energized during forecasted high fire danger conditions.”

The main plaintiffs, Monica and Rede Eder, own a house in historic town of Lahaina, which was decimated by the wildfire. Their suit is “on behalf of a class and subclasses of all persons similarly situated.”

— Mdelina (@nhtworld) August 14, 2023

The National Weather Service issued a High Wind Watch and Red Flag Warning before the fire broke out. Caution was urged over energized power lines that could make a fire develop more rapidly, according to the suit.

The suit also contends that the actions that were taken that day were the responsibility of the companies and “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.”

“Despite Defendants’ knowledge about these Red Flag and other warnings, Defendants left their power lines energized,” the complaint reads.

“Defendants knew that the high winds the NWS [National Weather Service] predicted would topple power poles, knock down power lines, and ignite vegetation. Defendants also knew that if their overhead electrical equipment started a fire, it would spread at a critically fast rate to the Plaintiffs’ and Putative Class Members’ properties, without warning and without sufficient time for them to safely evacuate themselves and their loved ones, to gather their pets, or to collect their other possessions,” the suit added.

So pretty much anytime there are high winds they will shut down all power lines. This will be great when we are all dependent on electricity and nothing else

— tek tekken (@tek_tekken) August 17, 2023

“Despite Defendants’ knowledge about these Red Flag and other warnings, Defendants left their power lines energized. These power lines foreseeably ignited the fast-moving, deadly, and destructive Lahaina Fire, which destroyed homes, businesses, churches, schools, and historic cultural sites. The fire killed scores of people and ruined hundreds — if not thousands — of lives,” the lawsuit states. “Many people remain missing. This fire marks the most destructive — and deadliest — human-made disaster in Hawai‘i history.”

“Scores of people burned to death,” the suit charges. “Other victims suffered severe burns, smoke inhalation, and additional serious injuries.”

The Honolulu Civil Beat reported that intense wind gusts knocked down approximately 30 utility poles across the region on August 8, many onto trees and roads, and complicated evacuations, according to Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen, who confirmed that some electrical lines were energized when they hit the ground. Maui’s top emergency officials were off the island as the wildfire hit Lahaina as well.

Hawaiian Electic spokesperson Jim Kelley told Fox News in a statement, “As has always been our policy, we don’t comment on pending litigation. 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.”

Blaming power companies for failed Democrat leadership.

— Mr. America (@ConservativesSo) August 16, 2023

Aside from the massive loss of life, damages are estimated in excess of $6 billion.

“We’ve got an area that we have to contain that is at least 5 square miles, and it is full of our loved ones,” Maui Police Chief John Pelletier told the Associated Press in an interview.

There are currently at least two other fires burning on Maui. One in south Maui’s Kihei area and one in the Upcountry.

Hawaiian Democratic Gov. Josh Green is blaming the destructiveness on high winds from Hurricane Dora and dry conditions on Maui.

“When fire jumped from one spot to another – there were three or four fires going on at the same time – it got seeded very quickly with those 80 mph gusted winds,” Green told MSNBC. “And then the fire moved at essentially a mile per minute, 60 mph down through the community.”

(Video Credit: MSNBC)

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