THE Los Angeles County wildfires in January 2025 had a notable impact on healthcare utilization, with emergency department (ED) visits decreasing by 9% while wildfire-associated visits spiked eightfold. These findings, based on near real-time data from the county’s Syndromic Surveillance program, reveal how natural disasters can shift healthcare patterns and provide critical insights for public health preparedness.
Between January 7 and January 19, 2025, wildfires in Pacific Palisades and Eaton Canyon burned 40,000 acres, destroyed 16,000 structures, and led to at least 29 fatalities. The data analysis examined ED trends across three periods—before, during, and immediately after the wildfires. Wildfire-associated encounters were defined by chief complaints and diagnoses related to fire or smoke exposure.
During the initial 6 days of the wildfires (January 7–12), the percentage of ED visits classified as wildfire-associated increased from 0.06% to 0.52%, peaking at 1.01% on January 8. Meanwhile, the overall number of ED visits dropped to 91% of baseline levels, likely reflecting a combination of evacuations, changes in daily activity, and disruptions in access to healthcare services. Visits rebounded slightly in the following week (January 13–19), returning to 95% of baseline.
Air quality played a key role in the surge of wildfire-related visits. The Air Quality Index (AQI) rose from a moderate level of 75 before the wildfires to 110, categorized as “unhealthy for sensitive groups”, during the fires’ most active period. However, despite worsening air quality, the data did not show an increase in asthma or cardiorespiratory complaints often seen in wildfire events. Small increases were noted in burn-related and eye-related injuries, with percentages rising from baseline during the wildfire period.
These findings highlight the importance of real-time health surveillance in identifying immediate health impacts and guiding public health interventions. Public messaging on minimizing exposure to wildfire smoke, especially during the first few days of an event, could help mitigate health risks. Further analysis is planned to determine which specific populations were most affected and explore longer-term health consequences.
Reference: Kajita E et al. Notes from the Field: Emergency Department Use During the Los Angeles County Wildfires, January 2025. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2025;74:40–42. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7403a2.
Anaya Malik | AMJ
