Parts of Lahaina open for re-entry as town seeks closure after deadly wildfires

Residents of Lahaina will be allowed to return to their homes for the first time since deadly wildfires swept across the island town in August.

The first zone was opened for re-entry on Monday, clearing residents and business owners who apply for vehicle passes to drive back into town. The Maui Emergency Management Agency will provide up to four passes for each residence, two for the owner and two for the resident, according to a news release.

Those who return will be provided personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as "water, shade, washing stations, portable toilets, medical and mental health care, Maui Bus transportation from local hotel shelters and language assistance."

"Most important is getting that closure," Darryl Oliveira, interim administrator of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, said during a news conference last week. "For many of them that left in the midst of the fire, this is going to be the first opportunity to go back and really see what's left."

Authorities cautioned that the area is still covered in ash and debris from the fire, and residents could encounter roadside hazards, including burned vehicles. PPE kits issued to residents will include an air respirator to prevent breathing in particles from the ash.

Officials also advised against digging through the ground, due to metal and concrete remnants.

"Again, our goal is to just support what needs to be done when people get closure and helping them to grieve and get through this process before we move into the next process, which is actually the debris removal," Oliveira said. "So we'll work with the community, just asking for everyone's patience, understanding, and really the cooperation."

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Tourism to Restart

The devastating fire burned across approximately 2,170 acres, or 3.4 square miles, according to the County of Maui. The blaze left at least 97 dead, a number revised down from an initial death toll of 115 on Sept. 15, the Associated Press reported.

A wildfire emergency proclamation signed by Hawaii Gov. Josh Green earlier this month will allow tourists to return to most of West Maui starting on Oct. 8. The proclamation underscores the difficult balance between prioritizing recovery and the island's economy. Officials initially advised tourists not to travel to the fire-ravaged island to prioritize Maui residents, but later announced the island would re-open to visitors sooner in an effort to revive the island's tourism-dependent economy.

Some Lahaina residents feel that the Oct. 8 re-opening is too soon to allow the town to heal. A petition demanding that Green and Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen delay the date has collected more than 7,200 signatures. "We firmly believe that before any reopening takes place, it is imperative to consult with and prioritize the needs of these working-class Lāhainā residents," it reads.

Late last month, the search and rescue phase ended in order for the Environmental Protection Agency to move into an effort to remove any hazardous material and prepare the area for re-entry in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“No one in our state has ever experienced the magnitude of this disaster and the degree of tragedy, therefore as we move through it, coordination with all county, state and federal agencies are occurring daily with my team," Bissen said at the time.

Cybele Mayes-Osterman is a breaking news reporter for USA Today. Reach her on email at [email protected]. Follow her on X @CybeleMO.