wildfires
Newsletter
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Insurers leave Maui wildfire survivors in unsafe homes, families say
Maui residents whose homes survived last year's wildfires are grappling with toxic contamination and insufficient insurance coverage to restore their homes, leaving many unable to return.
In short:
- Many Maui homeowners are battling insurers over inadequate payouts for smoke damage after the 2023 wildfires, which left homes filled with toxic residue.
- Independent experts estimate restoration costs up to four times higher than what insurers, like State Farm, are covering, leaving families displaced.
- Hawaii lacks industry standards for assessing wildfire smoke damage, leaving insurers to determine what is safe.
Key quote:
“We are not trying to make money or profit off of disaster. We just want our houses cleaned. We want to know we are safe in our homes, and we don’t know that.”
— Maria Linz, Lahaina resident
Why this matters:
As wildfires increase due to climate change, more homeowners face costly battles with insurers over smoke contamination. Without standards or regulation, families are left at risk, both financially and health-wise.
Read more: The Maui fires may cause long-term health problems
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Wildfire smoke is now linked to worsening eczema symptoms
Researchers have found that exposure to wildfire smoke can worsen eczema, adding to growing evidence of how air pollution harms skin health.
In short:
- A study led by Dr. Raj Fadadu and Dr. Maria Wei revealed a link between wildfire smoke and eczema, a common skin condition.
- Even short-term exposure to polluted air can aggravate symptoms like itchiness and dryness in people with eczema.
- As wildfires increase due to climate change, these findings suggest worsening skin health impacts.
Key quote:
"I feel like as climate change has progressed throughout my youth and adulthood, I'm seeing how a lot of the damage is done to the environment or harming human health — and one of the ways that's happening is through the generation of air pollution."
— Raj Fadadu, dermatologist at the University of San Francisco
Why this matters:
As wildfires grow more frequent, more people may suffer from aggravated skin conditions like eczema. Understanding these effects could lead to better treatment and policy responses.
Related EHN coverage:
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Jasper school officials push for better climate emergency planning
As students in Jasper prepare to return after devastating wildfires, experts stress that schools nationwide need better climate crisis response plans.
In short:
- Jasper’s schools will reopen on Sept. 17, weeks later than scheduled, after extensive efforts to clean and restore facilities damaged by wildfires.
- Experts warn that with the growing frequency of extreme weather events, schools must implement long-term air quality monitoring and mental health support for students and staff.
- Calls are growing for provincial and federal funding to create standardized emergency plans for schools facing climate-related disasters.
Key quote:
"There's even more evidence implicating air quality in such things as cancer, and so it's really important that we recognize that — not just for the kids, but for the teachers that might be exposed to these conditions long term."
— Dr. Joe Vipond, past president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment
Why this matters:
As climate change drives more extreme weather, schools must prepare to protect students' physical and mental health during and after these events. Without proactive planning, the risks to children’s well-being will only increase.
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Indigenous fire practices show potential for wildfire resilience in California
A Miwok fire practitioner sees signs of renewal in wildfire-scorched California landscapes, advocating for wider use of Indigenous cultural burns to manage land and reduce wildfire risks.
In short:
- Don Hankins, a Miwok cultural fire expert, observes ecological resilience in areas managed with cultural burns during the Park Fire in Northern California.
- Indigenous fire practices, which have been restricted by historical policies, show promise in reducing wildfire intensity by promoting native species and reducing flammable grasses.
- Despite success on smaller scales, significant policy barriers prevent widespread adoption of cultural burns.
Key quote:
“Indigenous communities often recognize colonization as the beginning of the climate crisis.”
— Don Hankins, cultural fire practitioner
Why this matters:
Indigenous fire practices could play a crucial role in mitigating wildfire risks as climate change intensifies. Addressing policy barriers may allow these methods to be implemented more widely, enhancing ecological resilience.
Related: LISTEN: Deniss Martinez on Indigenous science and cultural fire practices
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Canada’s 2023 wildfires released more carbon than nearly all countries
Wildfires that burned through Canada’s boreal forests in 2023 emitted more carbon dioxide than most countries, raising concerns about the future of global carbon storage.
In short:
- The 2023 Canadian wildfires emitted more carbon than all but three countries, complicating climate models.
- Boreal forests, vital for carbon storage, may no longer regrow as they used to due to frequent intense fires.
- Extreme weather, driven by climate change, is making catastrophic wildfires like these more common.
Key quote:
“These so-called flash droughts can really change things rapidly. It dried up real quick, real quick, and then you had lightning at the absolute worst time imaginable.”
— Marc-André Parisien, senior researcher, Canadian Forest Service
Why this matters:
As climate change accelerates, forests that once absorbed carbon may now contribute to global warming. This shift could worsen climate predictions, making it harder to limit global temperature rise.
Related EHN coverage:
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Wildfires devastate Brazil’s Pantanal, threatening rare species
Brazil’s Pantanal wetlands are being ravaged by record wildfires, endangering countless animals, including vulnerable species like jaguars and giant anteaters.
In short:
- The Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland, is burning due to severe droughts and climate change.
- The fires have killed or injured many animals, including rare jaguars and hyacinth macaws.
- Scientists fear the damage to the ecosystem may be irreversible if the fires continue.
Key quote:
“We’re watching the biodiversity of the Pantanal disappear into ash. It’s being burned to a crisp.”
— Gustavo Figueirôa, biologist, SOS Pantanal
Why this matters:
The Pantanal is one of the planet’s most biodiverse regions. Its destruction could lead to the extinction of several species and the loss of an irreplaceable natural environment.
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Climate risks may trigger the next housing crisis
Climate change is making U.S. homes riskier investments, as rising insurance costs signal a looming housing bubble that could devastate the economy.
In short:
- Home insurance premiums are climbing nationwide due to increasing climate risks like wildfires and floods.
- Experts warn that home prices don’t reflect these growing risks, leading to a potential housing bubble.
- If this bubble bursts, it could cause widespread economic damage, especially in vulnerable regions.
Key quote:
“We’re in a bubble, and whether it deflates slowly, causing some economic pain, or pops suddenly, shocking the country’s economic system, will come down to policy choices that governments make now.”
— Jesse Gourevitch, an environmental economist at the Environmental Defense Fund
Why this matters:
With climate-related disasters becoming more frequent, homeowners face increasing financial risks. Addressing these challenges now could prevent a catastrophic economic collapse in the future.
More: People are moving to risky areas despite climate dangers
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