I have been a part of the INBRE research lab at UHMC since my junior year when my chemistry professor recommended me to join the lab. After the August 8th, wildfires destroyed my hometown of Lahaina our lab decided to shift my research focus to studying the impacts of the wildfires on environmental microbe presence to inform public health risk and environmental health. To test our hypothesis that the wildfires would increase microbe presence, I began sampling for nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), E. coli, and Enterococcus. Throughout my research process, I learned many invaluable laboratory skills and scientific knowledge. I significantly improved my communication skills throughout this project as I assisted in abstract and poster creation, lead our poster presentation at the Biomedical Sciences and Health Disparities Symposium at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, and was interviewed in our lab by a journalist. This project has a large community impact as it is in partnership with other research organizations, and collectively our work will inform the overall health risks and environmental impacts of the August 8th wildfires.