Lahaina wildfire debris cleanup soon moving into Phase 2

Photo By Sara Goodeyon | On the visit to Kula the group of local officials from Lahaina saw contractors applying final erosion control at a property in the process of being completed.  

HI, UNITED STATES

12.24.2023

Story by Sara Goodeyon 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Honolulu District

The Consolidated Debris Removal Program in Lahaina, Maui for the cleanup from the Hawaii Wildfires will soon move in to Phase 2 of the mission which will involve the removal of fire-related debris such as ash, hazardous trees, and concrete foundations.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been conducting Phase 2 debris removal in Kula since Nov. 7 and as of Dec. 23 has removed debris from 22 residential properties. To prepare Lahaina for Phase 2 operations, USACE invited prominent local officials to visit work sites in Kula to see work in progress and sites that are complete and in turn share this information with the Lahaina community.

The leaders were briefed on how to fill out and turn in right-of-entry forms and other required documentation and what to expect from the Phase 2 cleanup process. The group saw properties where the debris had been removed, soil samples had been collected, final erosion control was complete, and the property had been returned to Maui County.

According to the Pacific Disaster Center, the August 2023 Maui Wildfires Disaster damaged or destroyed more than 2200 Maui properties. The cleanup is requiring a coordinated fire debris removal cleanup that includes Maui County, the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Cultural monitoring is being conducted at all times during debris operations to help protect the cultural heritage of Hawai‘i and Native Hawaiian people. Native Hawaiian, Maui-based cultural advisors are leading these efforts throughout the process.

• Date Taken: 12.24.2023
• Date Posted: 12.24.2023 16:00
• Story ID: 460727
• Location: HI, US