Weeks after a devastating wildfire, the people living in the area around Lahaina, Hawaii have started to undertake the massive cleanup effort, with encouraging reports that the death and devastation were less catastrophic than initially feared.

With more than 115 people confirmed dead, Hawaiian authorities are expected to announce the number of people unaccounted for will drop into the double digits–possibly as low as 50–after topping 1,000 about a week ago as more people are able to connect with loved ones.  After officials released a list of hundreds of people others had reported missing, nearly two-thirds of the cases were closed after people reported themselves safe.

The residents of hard-hit Lahaina received some good news Friday after a contractor for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources examined the town’s historic 150-year-old banyan tree and noted that the fire damage to the tree appears to be minor.

“We did root samples last week and we had very good news as far as new life in the roots. A lot of new roots shooting off,” landscape contractor Chris Imonti, working for the state, said. “We tested the moisture and arborist Steve Nims, who is the unofficial leader of the Banyan Tree hui, has analyzed all the treatments and he is out today putting sensors on the tree to measure growth rates. With the compost tea we are seeing good results and as long as we give it enough love, I think it’s going to be fine.”