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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Maui hopes to begin escorting residents and businesses to fire-ravaged areas of Lahaina starting Sept. 25, but authorities stressed the timeline was fluid and asked people to have patience as they coordinate reentry operations with an ongoing EPA clean-up.
Maui Emergency Management interim Administrator Darryl Oliveira outlined the reentry plan in a news conference Thursday, underscoring the potential health risks of going into the burn zone.
He said people will be provided with protective gear, including respirators, and instructed on how to properly sift through debris while limiting exposure to toxic ash.
“We don’t want to hurt anyone any more than they’ve already been hurt,” he said.
The Lahaina wildfire displaced more than 7,000 people, many of whom have been clamoring for details on how they’ll be given the opportunity to return to survey their properties and seek closure.
Oliveira said mental health counselors will be on hand for those re-entering the burn zone and professionals will also be available to help residents collect potential remains or mementos.
“Many need to have that moment of closure,” Oliveira said.
Here are the highlights of how the reentry plan will work:
- By next Friday, the county will announce a system for applying for passes into the community. Re-entry will be allowed into zones cleared of toxic materials by the EPA.
- Property owners and renters will also be contacted directly. “Our intent is to in advance notify residents of when we are going to identify a particular zone for reentry, communicate that to property owners, tenants and occupants,” Oliveira said.
- The first reentry group will be allowed back into the community Sept. 25. Those groups will be limited to about 10 people. The elderly and children are advised not to go into the area.
- Oliveira said residents and businesses will be escorted into the area for their first two visits. After that, they’ll be allowed to return as many times as needed.
Details on the re-entry plan will be posted here.
The death toll from the Lahaina wildfire now stands at 115 and more than 40 are still missing.
Additionally, some 2,200 structures were destroyed and buildings left standing are in areas with infrastructure that is destroyed.
The EPA is currently working to remove toxic materials from the area.
Interactive map shows re-entry updates for fire-impacted areas in Lahaina
Authorities had pledged they would detail how they’d start allowing people to return to survey their properties before a months-long debris removal effort gets underway.
The concern about allowing people to return has primarily focused on the hazardous conditions in the fire-ravaged area. Breathing in the ash and being in the area for extended periods of time is considered to be dangerous and returning residents are urged to wear protective gear.
This story will be updated.
Copyright 2023 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
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