Uncertainty Lingers Over Safety in Burned Maui Town After Deadly Wildfire

Daniel Skousen, a resident of Maui, faces a daunting task as he diligently scrubs away the lingering ash and soot that shroud his home. Amidst the arduous cleanup, he finds himself grappling with a multitude of questions, chief among them being the disconcerting odor that permeates the air. What precisely are the chemical origins of the acrid, burning-trash-barrel scent that has persisted since a catastrophic wildfire swept through Lahaina in August? Can he place his faith in the assessments provided by government agencies regarding when the air, land, and water will regain an acceptable level of safety for his family’s return?

These uncertainties are compounded by the backdrop of Lahaina’s tourism-dependent economy, where visitors typically inject a staggering $14 million daily. Some residents, like Skousen, ponder whether the desire to swiftly resurrect this vital revenue stream may inadvertently influence the objectivity of testing results. Skousen remarks, “It appears very important to them to get that tourism tax revenue back. It makes you wonder if the testing will be biased.”

Skousen’s home, though ravaged by the fire with shattered windows and a shroud of ash, still stands. He holds onto the hope of one day returning. In stark contrast, his neighbor’s home succumbed entirely to the flames.

Seeking a second opinion on government environmental assessments, preferably from a community-involved expert, Skousen encounters challenges in accessing raw data. Experts acknowledge that the long-term health implications of fires like the one that engulfed Lahaina remain largely enigmatic, as there exist no national standards delineating what qualifies as ‘clean enough’ for homes damaged by nearby wildfires.

The August 8 wildfire claimed at least 100 lives and left thousands displaced, with nearly 7,000 people still in temporary lodgings two months later. The aftermath reveals a landscape strewn with perilous remnants: electrical cables, plastic pipes, tires emitting toxic dioxins when burned, lead from melted vehicles or old house paint, and arsenic-laden ash from termite-resistant building materials.

Drawing parallels with a wildfire that razed 1,000 homes in Boulder County, Colorado in 2021, health officials discovered that even professionally remediated homes continued to harbor ash, char, and other harmful substances long after the fire. The culprit was high winds, akin to those that plagued Maui during the summer wildfire, which forced fine particulate matter into every conceivable crevice.

State and federal agencies have issued periodic safety updates for Lahaina. The town’s water remains undrinkable in many areas, and visitors are advised to employ protective gear in affected zones. Pregnant individuals and children are cautioned to avoid the burn zone, though the Hawaii Department of Education asserts that schools, situated above the burnt area, are safe.

In a bid to unearth more information, an attorney representing Skousen and other Lahaina residents requested public records from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning residential contaminant testing in Lahaina and its implications for human health. However, the EPA’s response offered little reassurance, stating, “No records could be located that are responsive to your request.”

The EPA indicated that they had conducted environmental hazard testing within the burn zone, primarily to assess immediate risks to cleanup workers. Further inquiries about long-term safety for residents were redirected to the Hawaii Department of Health, which also claimed to possess no records related to residential contaminant testing.

This opacity has led to skepticism among residents about the cleanup efforts. To address these concerns, the EPA has stationed personnel at the Lahaina Civic Center and worksites to engage with the community.

For individuals like Andrew Shoemaker, a fine art photographer who operated a gallery on Lahaina’s renowned Front Street, the desire to revisit the burnt areas for closure is tempered by health concerns. Particularly troubling are dioxins, toxic compounds emitted when plastic pipes, tires, and household materials burn. Dioxins, known for their longevity within the human body, can induce various health issues, including cancer.

Experts, while effective in monitoring air quality, acknowledge the vast gaps in knowledge regarding the long-term health risks posed by fires. Post-fire odors may result from off-gassing, where volatile organic compounds are absorbed into surfaces and released later, posing a protracted threat to residents and cleanup workers.

Even with meticulous air quality monitoring, off-gassing can expose individuals to toxic fire emissions for months. The volatile nature of these compounds poses challenges for air particle filters, highlighting the complexity of the issue.

As a resident and a teacher, Skousen has dedicated his free time to cleaning not only his own home but also those of his neighbors. In light of potential health risks, he and his wife have opted to homeschool their children at their temporary residence outside Lahaina, erring on the side of caution.

The guidelines for human exposure to pollutants are primarily derived from industrial settings, and adapting them to residential homes, where occupants spend the majority of their time, remains a contentious issue. Decisions on the habitability of a home ultimately hinge on the residents’ risk tolerance, further complicating the matter.

In Lahaina, as in many post-wildfire scenarios, there exists no definitive answer to the question of when a home can truly be considered safe for reoccupation. The ambiguity surrounding safety standards underscores the gravity of the situation, where individuals must weigh the potential risks against their need for closure and a return to normalcy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Maui Wildfire Safety

More about Maui Wildfire Safety

• Maui Wildfire Leaves Lingering Smell
• Impact of Wildfire on Lahaina’s Tourism
• Health Risks from Hazardous Remnants
• Lack of National Standards for Fire-Damaged Homes
• Government Agencies’ Safety Measures
• Transparency Concerns Among Lahaina Residents
• Uncertainty in Long-Term Health Risks