- Residents of Lahaina will be able to return to their homes this week as they begin the process of rebuilding after the devastating wildfires.
- Many of them are returning to find only empty plots, as their homes were completely destroyed in the fires.
- The return comes after weeks of debate and controversy surrounding the best ways to support the fire survivors.
Just outside the burned area in Lahaina, Jes Claydon stands, gazing at the ruins of the rental home she called hers for 13 years and where she raised her children. Little remains except for a few jars of sea glass that were outside the front door.
“I want the freedom to be there and process what happened,” Claydon said. “Even if all I find is those jars of sea glass, it’s a piece of home that I can hold onto.”
Claydon is not alone in her search for remnants of her life before the fire. Thousands of families who were displaced and lost their homes, cherished possessions, and photos will finally be allowed to return to their properties in the burn zone starting Monday, most of them for the first time since August 8.
The wildfires were some of the deadliest in the history of the country, claiming nearly 100 lives.
The memories of the fire’s horrors still haunt the survivors. Many stories emerged in the weeks after the fires, recounting how families had to flee from the flames. Residents jumped into the ocean to escape being consumed by the fire. One family, stuck in traffic, was forced to abandon their car and stay in the ocean for five hours until help arrived.
Others are grappling with “survivor’s guilt” after witnessing the devastation of Maui, particularly if their own homes remained intact.
Matthew Thayer/The Maui News via AP
The burned area has been divided into 17 zones and numerous sub-zones. Residents and property owners from the first zone to be cleared for reentry, Zone 1C, along Kaniau Road in north Lahaina, will be allowed supervised visits on Monday and Tuesday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Passes were available in advance from Friday to Sunday.
Darryl Oliveira, the interim administrator of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, emphasized the importance of giving residents the space and privacy they need to process their emotions and mourn their losses.
“Some people may only want to spend a few minutes at their property to say goodbye,” said Hawaii Governor Josh Green. “Others may want to stay for hours. We will accommodate their needs.”
Jae C. Hong/AP Photo
The decision to allow residents back into the burn zone comes after weeks of intense debate on how to best support the fire survivors. While some residents, including celebrities like Steven Tyler, believe that tourism should resume to mitigate rising unemployment rates, others feel that tourists should stay away to allow the community to collectively grieve.
Investors have also faced criticism for attempting to profit from the fires by approaching families about buying their burned homes, much to the disdain of Governor Josh Green.
Celebrities such as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Oprah Winfrey received backlash for asking people to contribute to recovery funds despite their own high net worths. Oprah Winfrey, who owns multiple properties in the Hawaiian islands, was particularly singled out.
President Joe Biden also faced criticism for sharing his own experiences with devastating fires, despite not losing his house in them.
As residents return to their properties, they will be provided with essential services such as water, shade, washing stations, portable toilets, medical and mental health care, and transportation assistance if needed. Nonprofit organizations are also offering personal protective equipment, including masks and coveralls. Authorities have warned about the potential presence of hazardous substances such as asbestos, lead, and arsenic in the ashes.
Officials are urging residents not to sift through the ashes in search of personal belongings, as doing so could raise toxic dust that may pose a danger to themselves and their neighbors.
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