The Monumental Task of Clearing Debris From the Lahaina Firethedigitalchaps

LAHAINA, Hawaii—Nearly six months after a wildfire incinerated Lahaina, cleanup crews this week are scheduled to begin clearing the charred rubble to make way for a near-total rebuild—a task that will be extraordinarily complicated due to the sensitive ecology and deep history of this former Hawaiian royal capital.

Fire cleanups are often tricky, but prepping Lahaina for its next phase presents some extra challenges. It’s on a remote island with only one access highway. A temporary landfill had to be built to hold the debris. Everything from water and dump trucks to bins and dumpsters has had to be brought in from elsewhere.