Maui Wildfire Survivors Face Ongoing Health Crisis Three Years On

A longitudinal health-exposure study (MauiWES) that began six months after the August 7, 2023 Lahaina wildfire has documented uneven recovery among more than 2,000 participants. Three years later, one in five adults still show lung function below expected levels, and roughly 20 % meet criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study also reports that the uninsured rate among participants fell from about 40 % to roughly 20 % after targeted enrollment in charitable insurance programs.

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The deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century swept through Lahaina on Maui on August 7, 2023, destroying homes, businesses, and medical facilities. The blaze forced the evacuation of thousands and left more than 100 people dead.

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• Respiratory health: Initial screenings found > 40 % of survivors reporting weekly respiratory symptoms; three years later, 20 % of adults still have below-expected lung function.

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• Mental health: 20 % of participants meet PTSD criteria; anxiety and depression scores are higher among those lacking stable housing, food, income, social support, or health-care access.

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• Health-care access: At enrollment, ~ 40 % of participants were uninsured; a year later, the study’s outreach reduced the uninsured share by half.

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• Physician shortage: Maui County now requires roughly 41 % more physicians to meet resident needs.

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The study team emphasizes a dual approach of data collection and direct assistance. Lead researcher *Ruben Juarez* (University of Hawaii) states that linking participants to charitable insurance programs cut the uninsured rate by half within a year.

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State health officials assert that the burn zone was declared safe after debris and ash removal in September 2024, but acknowledge ongoing gaps in medical infrastructure.

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• “It’s completely understandable to feel uneasy when wildfires are threatening our communities or when smoke is affecting the air we breathe,” — Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed., Oregon Health Authority

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The MauiWES team continues to monitor participants, extending health screenings and mental-health services while advocating for increased physician staffing to address the identified 41 % shortfall.

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