MD Urban Search And Rescue Team Returns After Maui Wildfire Response

MARYLAND — Members of Maryland Task Force 1 returned to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport early Tuesday morning, according to the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service.

MTF-1 was deployed Aug. 18 to assist FEMA's rescue efforts in Hawaii, after wildfires tore through parts of Maui. The fires killed at least 115 people and destroyed 2,000 structures, according to the Associated Press.

Hawaiian Electric Company released a statement Sunday night in response to Maui County’s lawsuit blaming the utility for failing to shut off power despite exceptionally high winds and dry conditions, the AP reported. Hawaiian Electric called that complaint “factually and legally irresponsible,” and said its power lines in West Maui had been de-energized for more than six hours when the second blaze started.

In its statement, the utility addressed the cause for the first time. It said the fire on the morning of Aug. 8 “appears to have been caused by power lines that fell in high winds.” The Associated Press reported Saturday that bare electrical wire that could spark on contact and leaning poles on Maui were the possible cause.

A federally-funded team, MTF-1 is comprised of 80 members from Montgomery, Howard, and Prince George's County fire departments, as well as DC Fire and EMS, according to officials.

The team, one of 28 across the United States that respond to natural and manmade disasters as part of FEMA's Urban Search and Rescue Task Force, previously assisted with recovery efforts following Hurricane Floyd and the Oklahoma City bombing, according to county officials.

Returning team members from Montgomery County included Lt. Enrico Caruso, who serves as a rescue specialist, and canine teams K9 Piper and K9 Phirst, who were deployed on Aug. 13.

The Associated Press contributed to the reporting of this story.