Maui emergency services official resigns amid scrutiny over wildfire response

Herman Andaya has resigned as the head of the Maui Emergency Management Agency amid scrutiny of the decision not to use the island's emergency sirens during a devastating wildfire that ravaged the island and has inflicted a death toll of more than 100.

Andaya previously defended his decision not to use the sirens, saying he feared people would flee inland toward the fires, the Associated Press reported.

"Today Mayor Richard Bissen accepted the resignation of Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Administrator Herman Andaya. Citing health reasons, Andaya submitted his resignation effective immediately," the County of Maui stated.

Bissen indicated he would quickly appoint a replacement, saying "[g]iven the gravity of the crisis we are facing, my team and I will be placing someone in this key position as quickly as possible and I look forward to making that announcement soon."

Andaya's resignation also follows an announcement from Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez that she would appoint an independent investigator to review the response to the wildfire at the request of Democratic Gov. Josh Green.

"We intend to look at this critical incident to facilitate any necessary corrective action and to advance future emergency preparedness," she said.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.