Lahaina Residents Question Safety of Burned Town Following Deadly Wildfire

Concerns Rise as Government Agencies Fail to Provide Records on Contaminant Testing

Residents of Lahaina, Maui, are concerned about the safety of their town following a deadly wildfire in August, with many questioning the reliability of government environmental assessments.
The fire, which resulted in at least 100 deaths and displaced thousands, has left behind rubble that includes dangerous dioxins, lead, and arsenic-laden ash.
Despite regular updates on Lahaina's relative safety from state and federal agencies, residents are skeptical, citing concerns about potential bias due to the island's reliance on tourism revenue.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Hawaii Department of Health have been unable to provide records regarding residential testing of contaminants, further fueling residents' concerns.
Long-term health risks posed by fires are still largely unknown, with no national standards detailing how clean is clean enough for a residential home damaged by a nearby fire.