Maui's emergency management chief resigns after barrage of criticism for wildfire response

The head of the Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Herman Andaya, submitted his resignation amid strong criticism for the way he handled the wildfires that caused the deaths of more than a hundred people.

According to a statement posted on Maui County social media, Andaya submitted his resignation effective immediately, and Mayor Richard Bissen accepted it.

"Given 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," the mayor said.

Andaya cited health reasons (which have not yet been detailed). However, his decision comes amid heavy criticism for his choice not to use the island's warning sirens.

Andaya has no regrets about his decision

On Wednesday, Andaya gave a press conference in which the now-former MEMA chief said he had no regrets over not sounding the sirens, saying activating them may have posed an even greater risk to the island's inhabitants.

"I do not" regret sounding the sirens, he said, adding that sirens are usually used to warn of tsunamis, so there was allegedly a fear that people would climb towards the fire instead of fleeing.

"The public is trained to seek higher ground in the event that the sirens are sounded. Had we sounded the sirens that night, we were afraid that people would have gone mauka (mountainside) ... and if that was the case then they would have gone into the fire," he added.