A bereaved family member of a victim of last month's wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui has accused state and county officials of gross negligence.
The confirmed death toll from the fires on August 8 stands at 115. The blaze wiped out the community of Lahaina, known for its historic landscape.
On Monday, the father of a 57-year-old woman who was killed filed a lawsuit seeking compensation from the State of Hawaii, the County of Maui and others.
The plaintiff claims authorities failed to take action despite reports on the risk of massive wildfires to Lahaina, were ill-prepared to warn residents and lacked plans for multiple evacuation routes.
US media say it is the first time the state and the county have been named as co-defendants in connection with the Maui fires.
Maui County has sued local electric companies for failing to shut down the power grid despite forecasts of gusty winds and low humidity.
The utilities claim the power supply had been cut off at the time the fires were ravaging Lahaina.