How to Handle Lāhainā Fire Materials on Lāna‘i

August 2023 – Materials from the Lāhainā fire will wash up on Lāna‘i shores. Here are tips on handling these items until you can return them to their rightful owners or send them to the appropriate FEMA repository.

Use nitrile or latex gloves to minimize handling. Skin oils can permanently fix the greasy soot residue to absorbent surfaces. Because soot’s fine particles stick to everything, every touch grinds them deeper into items. Since soot and ash are abrasive, they can scratch and further damage objects.

Lift objects carefully and avoid weakened areas. For example, support ceramics from the base instead of lifting them by the handles. For paper items, slide a support piece, such as a plastic sheet, under them.

Avoid putting pressure on blistered or lifting surfaces, like photographs.

Place items in supportive boxes or plastic containers to protect them.

Air dry items gently on a covered lanai or in a garage to reduce sunlight exposure. Avoid drying indoors, as this increases the risk of toxic residues spreading inside your home. Do not use hair dryers, irons, ovens, or prolonged sunlight, as they cause irreversible damage.

If you can’t dry photos, papers, books, or textiles within 48 hours, freeze them. Wrap these items in freezer paper and place them in a frost-free freezer set to the lowest temperature possible.

Record the location and date when you retrieve the items.

When collecting wildfire-damaged materials, check if the items contain identifiable information that could help trace the original owner—such as photos with recognizable faces or places, letters with names or addresses, business documents, or account books. Avoid collecting commercially produced materials like trade publications or newspapers, as these usually remain unclaimed.

The National Heritage Responders, a volunteer group of cultural heritage professionals, supports institutions and individuals impacted by the Lāhainā fire. They provide free advice and resources and will soon offer webinars on recovering fire-damaged objects and papers, starting in September. Contact them at 202.661.8068.

Unfortunately, the Lāna‘i Culture and Heritage Center cannot accept these items due to limited resources and collection scope. However, we hope these tips help and will share new information as it becomes available.

For further guidance, see FEMA’s Salvaging Guidance and Get Assistance After a Disaster resources.

Materials dispersed from the Lāhainā fire will show up on Lāna‘i shores and tips on handling them until they can be returned to their rightful owners or to the appropriate repository from FEMA.