What was the fuel spill in Maui?

On Jan. 29, the U.S. Space Force spilled 700 gallons of diesel fuel at the Maui Space Surveillance Complex, a satellite tracking and research facility, after a fuel pump for a generator failed to shut off. The agency said a power surge during a lightning storm likely caused the failure.



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WAILUKU, Hawaii — The Space Force said a power surge during a lightning storm likely caused a mechanical issue that allowed about 700 gallons (2,750 liters) of diesel fuel to spill last week at the environmentally sensitive and culturally important summit of Haleakala mountain on Hawaii's Maui Island.

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This area is considered sacred to native Hawaiians and there are many important cultural sites within the national park. The word Haleakala actually means “house of the sun.” Legend says that the demigod Maui caught the sun at the summit of Haleakala and forced it to slow its journey across the sky.

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Deadly wildfires in Hawaii, which killed over 100 people and forced thousands to evacuate, were fueled by a mix of land and atmospheric conditions that can create fire weather. A massive blaze destroyed much of the historic town of Lahaina, on Maui, and the search for victims continued as hundreds remained missing.

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The state has one crude oil refinery, located in the Honolulu port area on Oahu, which can process about 94,000 barrels of crude oil per calendar day. The refinery's crude oil comes primarily from Argentina and Libya.

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