We’re proud to share that Jonathan Bowers, Executive Director of Clean Environmental Solutions and a key expert at FireTestPro, was recently featured in The Washington Post for his critical work on analyzing wildfire smoke contamination in homes. Bowers’ findings underscore the importance of accurate testing in the aftermath of wildfires to protect residents from harmful toxins.

Assessing Lahaina’s Homes for Contamination

In the aftermath of the devastating wildfires in Lahaina, Bowers and his team analyzed approximately 350 homes, carefully collecting samples from inside walls, attics, and surfaces. Working with an independent certified lab, the results from his testing raised alarming concerns—particularly in the Leiali’i area, where nearly all homes exhibited elevated levels of soot, ash, or char.

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Jonathan Bowers, the executive director of Clean Environmental Solutions, analyzed about 350 homes in Lahaina by collecting samples from inside the walls, the attics and on surfaces. Bowers, who also worked on the Marshall Fire, then sent his samples to an independent, certified lab. The results were concerning. In Leiali’i, nearly all the samples returned showing elevated levels of soot, ash or char, he said. What’s been baffling, Bowers said, is that insurance industry contractors have beentaking more samples, yet the levels of contamination are coming up low or even non-detected. Bowers said his company has not needed to take as many because of the “gross contamination” that he saw in Lahaina. The Hussey family is a good example, Bowers said. Last September, State Farm sent EFI Global, one of its main contractors, to test the home. In a preliminary 19-page analysis, the contractor observed a significant amount of fire residue around the house. The inside smelled like smoke. “All carpets within the residence should be replaced,” it said. And though the report shows that inspectorsdid not test the attic, they said the insulation needed to “be removed and replaced.” Given “the proximity of the residence to the wildfire and a visual inspection,” the exterior also needed to be cleaned. The company then sent their tape lifts to its own laboratory, which concluded that only two of the 24 samples taken had “atypical” levels of soot, char and ash. The remaining ones fell in “acceptable ranges.” Based in part on those results, State Farm gave Janice about $21,790 to restore her home and $7,258 to clean personal property, documents show. That was shocking, she said, because Maui’s main restoration company quoted her $43,826 for restoration, and that was just an initial estimate. State Farm also said in a letter that she “would be responsible for any additional charges” not in line with their tester’s findings. Hahohano later estimated it would cost up to $80,000 due to the contamination level, intensive work and the need to replace most everything inside. In April, Bowers surveyed her residence. His 64-page analysis made some of the same observations as those from EFI Global, but his samples showed a much more dangerous situation: High levels of toxic carcinogens were found throughout the home. Each sample showed residue levels three to seven times higher than EFI Global’s. The attic, for example, had a contamination level of 46 percent. The attic, 26 percent. EFI Global did not respond for request for comment. Bowers explained the difference between the varying testing results: He tests in places that insurance contractors sometimes avoid — such as in attics or behind the walls. He said he concurred with Hahohano’s estimate. “The way I evaluate a property is, ‘Would I put my wife and my son in this home? Would I live in this home in its current condition?’” Bowers explained. “The answer had always been no in Lahaina.”

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The Baffling Discrepancy with Insurance Contractors

What’s baffling, as Jonathan highlighted in the article, is the inconsistency in testing results between insurance contractors and his team’s findings. While contractors hired by insurance companies have been conducting multiple tests, the results often show low or non-detected levels of contamination. In contrast, Bowers’ fewer but more strategic samples indicated gross contamination, particularly in areas often overlooked by insurance testers, like attics and behind walls.

One example Bowers mentioned was the Hussey family, whose home had been inspected by State Farm’s contractor, EFI Global. Despite the contractor’s observation of fire residue and smoke odors, EFI Global’s lab results showed only two out of 24 samples with elevated contamination levels. Bowers’ own testing, however, revealed contamination levels that were three to seven times higher, exposing the presence of toxic carcinogens throughout the house.

The Cost of Underestimating Damage

The discrepancies in testing methods and results directly impact homeowners’ financial burden. State Farm initially provided a restoration estimate of $21,790, while local restoration companies quoted far higher, at $43,826. Bowers, using a more thorough method, estimated the true restoration cost at $80,000, aligning with the real contamination levels found in his testing.

The impact of inadequate testing cannot be overstated. Wildfire smoke contains hazardous compounds that linger within walls and attics, often escaping detection by insurance-hired contractors. Jonathan Bowers and FireTestPro’s approach ensures that no corner is left unexamined, prioritizing the safety of residents.

“I always ask myself, ‘Would I live in this home in its current condition?’ And in Lahaina, the answer was always no,” Bowers explained.

Read the Full Story

Learn more about Jonathan Bowers’ important work and read the full article on The Washington Post: Maui wildfire survivors say insurers are failing to clean up toxic damage to their homes