Herman Andaya, the head of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, has resigned following the deadly fires on Maui that raised questions over why officials did not sound the all-hazard outdoor warning system.

Citing health reasons, Andaya submitted his resignation, effective immediately, Mayor Richard Bissen announced Thursday afternoon.

“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,” Bissen said in a statement.

Andaya said during a news conference on Wednesday afternoon that he did not regret not sounding the sirens during the Lahaina fire, saying they are located along the coastline and used more for tsunamis.

“The public is trained to seek higher ground in the event that the siren is sounded. … Having sounded the siren that night, we’re afraid that people would have gone mauka, and if that was the case, then they would’ve gone into the fire,” Andaya said.

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