Maui Wildfire Mission Assignment for Lahaina Harbor Completed

JAN. 8, 2024 — When declared disasters and other emergencies occur, Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) provide the structure for coordinating federal interagency support for a federal response to an incident. Following the devastating August 8, 2023 wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued the United States Coast Guard (USCG) a Mission Assignment under an ESF 10 to assess and remove incident-generated pollution, hazardous materials, damaged and sunken vessels, and associated debris in and around Lahaina Harbor. That mission was completed at the end of December of 2023. 

Maui Wildfire Lahaina Harbor Mission Assignment response staff from USCG, NOAA, and Global Diving and Salvage at the NOAA Hawaiian Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary facility in Kihei, Maui. USCG Mission Incident Commander, Capt. Melanie Burnham, front right; NOAA ERD Scientific Support Coordinator for the Pacific Islands, Ruth Yender, front row, third from right (Image credit: USCG).
Maui Wildfire Lahaina Harbor Mission Assignment response staff from USCG, NOAA, and Global Diving and Salvage at the NOAA Hawaiian Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary facility in Kihei, Maui. USCG Mission Incident Commander, Capt. Melanie Burnham, front right; NOAA ERD Scientific Support Coordinator for the Pacific Islands, Ruth Yender, front row, third from right (Image credit: USCG).

Staff from OR&R’s Emergency Response Division provided scientific guidance to minimize environmental impacts from the operations throughout the mission, including intermittent on-scene support by the Scientific Support Coordinator for the Pacific Islands, Ruth Yender. 

The USCG-contracted salvage team removed 87 fire-damaged vessels and a significant amount of associated debris, in addition to recovering approximately 10,137 gallons of petroleum products and 24,831 pounds of hazardous waste. Final disposition of the damaged vessels and debris will be conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under an ESF 3 Mission Assignment. USCG and NOAA closely coordinated mission tasks and status with other response partners, including the Hawaii Department of Health Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Maui Emergency Operations Center, FEMA, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

In addition to scientific support from OR&R, the NOAA Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary generously provided space at their Kihei, Maui facility to the USCG for an Incident Command Post. Local sanctuary staff also provided invaluable logistical support and assistance. On December 14, the USCG and NOAA exchanged accolades as they prepared to move out of the Sanctuary facility at the conclusion of the mission.

The NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator and staff from other NOAA line offices will continue to participate in a variety of task forces to address marine environmental issues during the long recovery of impacted areas of Maui.

Last updated Friday, January 19, 2024 9:45am PST