Some Lahaina residents returned to their devastated properties Monday for the first time since the Hawaii town was nearly seven weeks ago.

Authorities allowed residents into the first area to be 害羞草研究所� a zone of about two dozen parcels in the northern part of Lahaina 害羞草研究所� between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The Aug. 8 wildfire killed and destroyed more than 2,000 buildings, most of them homes. Officials urged residents not to sift through the ashes for fear of raising toxic dust.

The prospect of returning has stirred strong emotions in residents who fled in vehicles or on foot as the wind-whipped flames raced across Lahaina, the of the former Hawaiian kingdom, and overcame people stuck in traffic trying to escape. Some survivors jumped over a sea wall and sheltered in the waves as hot black smoke blotted out the sun.

From a National Guard blockade near the burn zone, Jes Claydon has been able to see the ruins of the rental home where she lived for 13 years and raised three children. Little remains recognizable beyond the jars of sea glass that stood outside the front door.

Claydon hoped to collect those jars and any other mementos she might find.

害羞草研究所淚 want the freedom to just be there and absorb what happened,害羞草研究所� Claydon said. 害羞草研究所淲hatever I might find, even if it害羞草研究所檚 just those jars of sea glass, I害羞草研究所檓 looking forward to taking it. 害羞草研究所� It害羞草研究所檚 a piece of home.害羞草研究所�

Claydon害羞草研究所檚 home was a single-story cinderblock house painted a reddish-tan, similar to the red dirt in Lahaina. A few of the walls are still standing, and some green lawn remains, she said.

Authorities have divided the burned area into 17 zones and dozens of sub-zones. Residents or property owners of the first to be cleared for reentry 害羞草研究所� known as Zone 1C, along Kaniau Road in the north part of Lahaina 害羞草研究所� were being allowed to return on supervised visits Monday and Tuesday.

Darryl Oliveira, interim administrator of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, said officials also want to ensure they have the space and privacy to reflect or grieve as they see fit.

害羞草研究所淭hey anticipate some people will only want to go for a very short period of time, a few minutes to say goodbye in a way to their property,害羞草研究所� Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said last week. 害羞草研究所淥thers may want to stay several hours. They害羞草研究所檙e going to be very accommodating.害羞草研究所�

Those returning were being given water, shade, washing stations, portable toilets, medical and mental health care, and transportation assistance if needed. Nonprofit groups also offered personal protective equipment, including masks and coveralls. Officials have warned , lead, arsenic or other toxins.

Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, The Associated Press