HONOLULU (KHON2) -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), alongside federal, state, and local agencies, has successfully completed debris removal from all residential properties affected by the Lahaina wildfires in August 2023. Get Hawaii's latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You This significant milestone means that 1,390 residential properties have now been returned to the County of Maui, allowing homeowners to apply for building permits as they prepare to rebuild. While debris and ash were cleared from the last residential lots in late August, the properties needed soil sampling and erosion control measures to ensure environmental safety before being handed back to the county. Lt. Col. Collin Jones, commander of the USACE Recovery Field Office, emphasized the importance of this achievement. “This marks a major step forward for Lahaina’s recovery,” he said. “We are proud to have completed the residential debris removal ahead of schedule, but our work isn’t done. We’re now focused on clearing commercial properties to help the community rebuild.” Currently, commercial debris removal is 64% complete, with 102 commercial properties cleared so far. A total of 72 out of 159 commercial properties have been returned to the County, and officials expect to finish this phase by early 2025. Hawaii Supreme Court to review $4 billion settlement for Lahaina wildfire victims As the Corps shifts its attention to commercial properties, residents can expect less cleanup activity, fewer trucks transporting debris to the Temporary Disposal Site (TDS) in West Maui, and reduced traffic related to these operations. The TDS will also see fewer debris shipments, with tonnage reports now provided weekly instead of daily. Traffic control measures, including signals on Honoapiilani Highway, will remain in place to ensure safe crossings for trucks, though with much less frequency. Additionally, site preparation for the Kilohana Temporary Housing site is on track for completion by the end of October, while the Fleming Road sewer project is expected to finish in early December to support the temporary housing infrastructure. Residents can stay informed by attending weekly disaster recovery community meetings at the Civic Center or by visiting the MauiRecovers website. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news For further inquiries, contact the USACE Hawaii Wildfires Public Affairs Office at (808) 835-4062 or [email protected].