HAWAIʻI WILDFIRES: PRIVATE PROPERTY DEBRIS REMOVAL
[https://www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/hawaii-wildfires-private-property-debris-removal]


Release Date: 
Sep 8, 2023 

Fire debris removal cleanup is one of the major challenges facing
residents, business owners and government agencies during recovery
from the historic wildfires that swept across Maui County on Aug. 8.
Debris removal is taking place in phases to ensure the safety and
cultural sensitivities of the affected communities. For more
information on the process, visit
mauirecovers.org/recovery/debrisremoval,
[https://www.mauirecovers.org/recovery/debrisremoval] Maui County’s
comprehensive source of information and resources for survivors of the
Hawaiʻi wildfires.
 

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

	* In the first phase, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
removes hazardous materials such as paints, solvents, oils, batteries
and pesticides from all fire- impacted properties.
	* Once local officials are informed that the site is safe, they will
notify residents when they may return to their property to retrieve
any belongings that may be saved.

ROLE OF THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

	* For the second phase, the State of Hawaiʻi announced that FEMA and
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will lead the removal of fire-damaged
debris from private property.
	* Property owners are not required to use this service. However, for
the safety of the community, property owners who choose to do their
own cleanup must still follow local, state and federal requirements.
	* The Corps of Engineers is committed to protecting not only the
health and safety of those impacted by the fires but also to
respecting the culture of the community.

CULTURAL SAFEGUARDS

	* The State of of Hawaiʻi and the Corps of Engineers have instituted
safeguards to protect sites and treat them appropriately and
respectfully.

	* Cultural (archaeological) monitors with expertise and knowledge are
working within the affected communities and are trained to be
sensitive to the cultural significance of their work.
	* Cultural monitors will be present during the removal process. These
monitors are local, Maui-based experts and have extensive experience
in their community culture.
	* Even with painstaking efforts to recover all of those who died in
the fire zone, the extent and heat of the fire may have left behind
human remains that cannot be distinguished from the fire debris for
respectful removal, identification and return to family members. Fire
debris removal efforts will include additional resources to address
these circumstances,

DEBRIS REMOVAL EFFORTS

	* Property owners who opt into the debris removal program are
required to sign a right- of-entry form and submit it to Maui County
officials before removal begins.

	* Maui officials will provide these completed forms to the Corps of
Engineers so they can access fire-damaged private property.

	* Maui County is required to collect right-of-entry forms from
property owners participating in the debris removal program.
	* Your permission is needed so government-authorized contractors can
go onto your property and remove fire-damaged debris.

	* Signing a right-of-entry form does not transfer ownership of the
property. It only allows the government and/or its authorized
contractors to go onto private property to remove the debris.
	* After the Environmental Protection Agency has removed hazardous
materials, it is your right as the property owner not to participate
in the private debris removal program. If you choose to remove all or
some of the debris through a private contractor, (see Private Fire
Debris Removal opt-out option at MauiRecovers.org
[http://www.mauirecovers.org/]), you are required to meet or exceed
the standards set by local, state and federal agencies. More
information will be provided by Maui County.
	* MauiRecovers.org [http://www.mauirecovers.org/] is Maui County’s
comprehensive source of information and
resources for survivors of the Hawai'i wildfires.