This article was originally published by Grist , in partnership with The Intercept , and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.

Damage from the 2023 fire that destroyed the Hawaiian town of Lahaina. Matt McClain / The Washington Post via Getty Images via Grist

More than a year after a devastating wildfire destroyed the Hawaiian town of Lahaina, residents were found to have high levels of arsenic and other toxic metals in their bodies.

In August of 2023, a series of wildfires broke out across Maui, killing more than 100 people, destroying thousands of homes, and causing billions of dollars in damage. Noelani Ahia, who is Indigenous Kanaka Maoli and cofounder of Maui Medic Healers Hui, helped mobilize nearly 600 volunteers in Lahaina, including doctors, nurses, and therapists.

Three years later, the housing and health crises remain acute. Maui Medic Healers Hui runs a free clinic, but Ahia wishes it had 10 more to address the community’s needs.…