Global Courant
Authorities allowed residents to visit 20 plots in the northern part of the city, fearing toxic dust.
A small group of residents have returned to Lahaina, Hawaii, for the first time since the city was destroyed by wildfires nearly seven weeks ago.
Some families returning stopped for a moment of reflection. Others looked for memories they might want to collect, said Darryl Oliveira, the interim administrator of the Maui Emergency Management Agency.
By mid-morning, about 16 vehicles carrying residents had entered the burned area, he said.
“They are very grateful to be able to come in here, something they have all been eagerly waiting for,” Oliveira said. “People who haven’t been here since the fire are surprised by the size and scope of the destruction.”
The prospect of returning has stirred strong emotions among residents who fled in vehicles or on foot on Aug. 8 as wind-swept flames swept through Lahaina, the historic capital of the former Hawaiian kingdom. Some victims were stuck in traffic trying to escape when the fire overtook their cars.
The wildfires killed at least 97 people and destroyed more than 2,000 buildings, most of them homes. Some survivors jumped over a sea wall and took shelter in the waves, as hot black smoke obscured the sun.
Officials have warned residents returning to Lahaina, Hawaii, to be wary of toxic ash in the city’s remains (Mengshin Lin/AP Photo)
Officials urged returning residents not to search the ash for fear of kicking up toxic dust. The first area to be cleared for return was a zone of about two dozen plots in the northern part of Lahaina. Residents were allowed to enter the area under supervision on Mondays and Tuesdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
From a National Guard blockade near the fire zone, Jes Claydon was able to see the ruins of the rental house where she lived for 13 years and raised three children. There is little recognizable other than the jars of sea glass that had been outside the front door.
Claydon hoped 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 come across, even if it’s just those jars of sea glass, I look forward to taking it with me. … It’s a piece of home.”
Claydon’s house was a one-story cinder block house painted a reddish color, similar to the red earth in Lahaina. A few walls are still standing and some green lawn remains, she said.
Those who returned were provided with water, shade, washing stations, portable toilets, medical and mental health care, and transportation assistance as needed. Nonprofits also offered personal protective equipment, including masks and coveralls. Officials say the ash at the site could contain asbestos, lead, arsenic or other toxins.
Oliveira said officials wanted to ensure residents had space and privacy to reflect or grieve. Most journalists were confined to an area outside the fire zone where they could not see people visiting their properties.
A team of more than 20 people from Samaritan’s Purse, a nondenominational Christian ministry, helped some people sift through what was left of their homes to find and recover souvenirs, said Todd Taylor, who works with the organization.
“It’s like losing a loved one. That’s exactly what these people are going through,” Taylor said. “Those homeowners can talk to us about their home – ‘This is where my bedroom was and I had a nightstand here with my wedding ring’ or ‘My grandfather’s urn was on the sink’ – those kinds of indicators that our volunteers can help sort through the ashes and look for very specific objects.”
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