The chief of Maui’s emergency management agency, Herman Andaya, has resigned for health reasons, according to Maui County. This comes a day after he defended the decision to keep Maui’s siren system silent during the deadly fires in the United States that claimed the lives of over 111 people. The fires heavily impacted the Lahaina region. Criticisms have escalated regarding fire preparedness and response, including the role of the local power provider and the siren system. Andaya’s resignation is effective immediately, and his position will be filled swiftly. The decision not to activate the sirens, which are part of a statewide network, has sparked criticism and controversy, with questions raised about the reasons for their silence and the impact on resident safety. The governor has initiated an investigation into the fires and the response, including the use of the siren system.