Efforts to Prevent Toxic Runoff and Clear Debris in Post-Wildfire Maui

The extreme wildfire in Lahaina, Maui, has destroyed thousands of homes and buildings, and now the cleanup efforts face the challenge of preventing toxic fire debris from contaminating the ocean. With coral reefs located just offshore, the ecosystem is highly vulnerable to runoff. State and federal agencies are installing barriers and monitoring equipment to measure the impact on the reefs, but the toll is uncertain due to the rarity of such extreme fires near tropical reefs. Marine experts are concerned about heavy metals and chemicals entering the ocean's food chain and harming the coral reef, especially as ocean temperatures rise due to climate change.