The August 8, 2023, blaze - the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century - was long known to have emerged in the afternoon, in the same area as blaze that began early that morning.
Driven by strong erratic winds, the fire raced through the historic town of Lahaina destroying thousands of buildings, overcoming people trapped in their cars and forcing some residents to flee into the ocean.
It has been unclear whether the blaze was a rekindling of the morning fire after firefighters spent hours dousing it or a separate one. The answer could prove significant to questions about liability for the destruction, though a tentative $US4 billion ($A5.8 billion) settlement has been reached.
In presenting their findings, officials with the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Maui Fire Department did not address liability, but found that it was a rekindling of the morning fire.
The rekindling was most likely caused by high winds that blew undetected embers into the dry gully, they said.
A Hawaiian Electric power line fell early on the morning of August 8, sparking a fire in overgrown brush near the edge of town. Fire crews responded and stayed for several hours until they believed the fire was extinguished.
After they left, flames were spotted again and though firefighters rushed back, they were no match for the wind and flames.
Communication between the police and fire departments was spotty, mobile phone networks were down and emergency officials did not activate the emergency sirens that might have warned residents to evacuate.
Power lines and poles had fallen in many locations throughout town, and police blocked some roads to protect residents from potentially dangerous power lines.
First responders also had trouble getting a firm answer from Hawaiian Electric representatives if the power had been cut to the area.
The blocked roads contributed to gridlock that left fleeing people trapped in their cars as the flames advanced. Others died in their homes or outside as they tried to escape.
The death toll surpassed that of the 2018 Camp Fire in northern California, which left 85 dead and destroyed the town of Paradise.
