Hawaii wildfires: Residents can finally return home after seven weeks.
Residents Prepare to Return to Burn Zone in Lahaina
From just outside the burn zone in Lahaina, Jes Claydon can see the ruins of the rental home where she lived for 13 years and raised three children. Little remains recognizable beyond the jars of sea glass that stood outside the front door.
On Monday, officials are expected to begin lifting restrictions on entry to the area, and Claydon hopes to collect those jars and any other mementos she might find.
“I want the freedom to just be there and absorb what happened,” Claydon said. “Whatever I might find, even if it’s just those jars of sea glass, I’m looking forward to taking it. … It’s a piece of home.”
Authorities will begin allowing the first residents and property owners to return to their properties in the burn zone, many for the first time since it was demolished nearly seven weeks ago, on Aug. 8, by the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century.
The prospect of returning has stirred strong emotions in residents who fled in vehicles or on foot as the wind-whipped flames raced across Lahaina, the historic capital of the former Hawaiian kingdom, and overcame people stuck in traffic trying to escape.
Some survivors jumped over a sea wall and sheltered in the waves as hot black smoke blotted out the sun. The wildfire killed at least 97 people and destroyed more than 2,000 buildings, most of them homes.
Claydon’s home was a single-story cinderblock house painted a reddish tan, similar to the red dirt in Lahaina. She can see the property from a National Guard blockade that has kept unauthorized people out of the burn zone. A few of the walls are still standing, and some green lawn remains, she said.
Authorities have divided the burned area into 17 zones and dozens of sub-zones. Residents or property owners of the first to be cleared for reentry — known as Zone 1C, along Kaniau Road in the north part of Lahaina — will be allowed to return on supervised visits Monday and Tuesday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Those eligible could pick up passes from Friday to Sunday in advance.
Darryl Oliveira, interim administrator of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, said officials also want to ensure that they have the space and privacy to reflect or grieve as they see fit.
“They anticipate some people will only want to go for a very short period of time, a few minutes to say goodbye in a way to their property,” Gov. Josh Green (D-HI) said last week. “Others may want to stay several hours. They’re going to be very accommodating.”
Those returning will be provided water, shade, washing stations, portable toilets, medical and mental healthcare, and transportation assistance if needed. Nonprofit groups are also offering personal protective equipment, including masks and coveralls. Officials have warned ash could contain asbestos, lead, arsenic, or other toxins.
While some residents, like Claydon, might be eager to find jewelry, photographs, or other tokens of their life before the fire, officials are urging them not to sift through the ashes for fear of raising toxic dust that could endanger them or their neighbors downwind.
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How do residents plan to rebuild and restore their community after the wildfire
Brown, with a large lawn and a swing set in the backyard. She remembers the sound of the fire approaching, the crackling and popping as it consumed everything in its path. She grabbed her children and whatever belongings she could carry and fled to safety.
Now, as the authorities prepare to allow residents back into the burn zone, Claydon feels a mix of anticipation and anxiety. She wonders what she will find when she steps foot in her former home. Will anything be salvageable? Will the memories flood back and overwhelm her? But she knows that facing the reality of what happened is an important step in the healing process.
For many residents, returning to the burn zone is about more than just collecting belongings. It is about reclaiming their sense of home, their sense of belonging. It is about confronting the devastation that the wildfire brought upon their lives and finding a way to move forward.
But returning to the burn zone won’t be easy. The once familiar streets and landmarks are now unrecognizable. The charred remains of homes and buildings are a stark reminder of the destructive power of the fire. The landscape is scarred and barren, devoid of the vibrant life that once thrived there.
Yet, amidst the destruction, there is also hope. As residents return, they will come together as a community to support one another and rebuild. They will find strength in their shared experiences and resilience in the face of adversity. The process of rebuilding will be long and challenging, but they are determined to restore their community to its former glory.
Authorities are urging caution as residents return. The burn zone may still harbor dangers such as unstable structures and hazardous materials. It is important for residents to take the necessary precautions and follow the guidelines provided by officials.
As residents prepare to return to the burn zone in Lahaina, they do so with a mixture of trepidation and hope. They know that their lives will never be the same, but they are determined to find a way forward. They will pick up the pieces, rebuild their homes, and create new memories. They will show the world the resilience and strength of the human spirit.
For Jes Claydon, the jars of sea glass that stood outside her front door are more than just objects. They are a symbol of her home, her family, and her memories. As she walks through the burn zone, collecting those jars, she will carry with her the spirit of Lahaina and the determination to rebuild.
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