The head of Maui County’s emergency management agency resigned on Thursday, a day after he defended his decision to not activate sirens during catastrophic wildfires that have taken more than 100 lives.

Maui Emergency Management Agency administrator Herman Andaya cited health reasons for his resignation, which took immediate effect.

Why Were the Emergency Sirens Not Activated?

Andaya was asked Wednesday whether he regretted not activating emergency sirens as wildfires spread across West Maui. He responded, “I do not,” during a press conference.

According to Andaya, the sirens are primarily used for tsunamis, and the public is trained to seek higher ground in such situations. However, seeking higher ground during the wildfires would have been dangerous, he explained.

Andaya expressed concerns that people would have gone towards the mountainside, known as “mauka” in Hawaiian, and ended up walking into the fire.

Search for a Replacement

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen stated that a replacement for Andaya would be announced soon. Bissen emphasized the urgency of the situation, saying, “Given the gravity of the crisis we are facing, my team and I will be placing someone in this key position as quickly as possible,” in a statement on Thursday.

Deadliest Wildfire in a Century

The wildfire in Maui County has claimed the lives of at least 111 people as of Wednesday. The death toll is expected to rise as search dogs continue to search through the devastated historic town of Lahaina. This wildfire is the deadliest in the United States in over a century and the worst disaster in Hawaii state history.

Investigation into Response Efforts

State and local emergency management officials are facing increasing scrutiny over their actions during the spread of the wildfires. Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez announced on Thursday that an independent investigator will be appointed to review the response efforts at the state and local level.

Lopez emphasized that the review will be impartial and independent, clarifying that it is not a criminal investigation.

Preparing for Future Challenges

Hawaii Governor Josh Green stated that the review is not meant to be a criminal investigation. He explained that the focus is on ensuring safety during hurricane season and dealing with the reality that wildfires will continue to occur in the coming decades.