The Buzz This Week
Southern California is currently battling multiple wildfires, with flames devastating communities and straining the local healthcare system in unprecedented ways. Major blazes like the Palisades and Eaton fires have consumed tens of thousands of acres, fueled by persistent Santa Ana winds.
The crisis has prompted US Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) Secretary Xavier Becerra to declare a public health emergency, granting healthcare providers greater flexibility. “That air that’s being spewed is no longer just the kind of smoke that we used to see from wildfires, where it was natural vegetation that was burning,” said Becerra, a former California Attorney General. “Now you got a whole bunch of toxic materials that are getting burned and put into the air.”
The ongoing crisis has strained emergency services due to high call volumes, road closures, power outages, and a water shortage. The number of emergency room visits for respiratory issues has also significantly increased. Healthcare facilities, such as Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai, are preparing for a surge in patients with respiratory problems by expanding their clinic schedule.
Some hospitals, like Providence St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica and USC Verdugo Hills Hospital in Glendale, have faced potential evacuations due to their proximity to the fires. Kaiser Permanente, Providence, Cedars-Sinai, Adventist Health, and UCLA Health have had to shut down some facilities because of the fires, reducing access for patients needing care. While hospitals remain operational, they have postponed non-urgent procedures and closed certain clinics to respond to the crisis effectively.
Why It Matters
The California wildfires pose significant and far-reaching health risks. The poor air quality caused by wildfire smoke can lead to immediate health issues, including smoke inhalation, eye irritation, and respiratory distress. More alarmingly, wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter that can penetrate deep into the lungs and even into the bloodstream. This increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and exacerbates preexisting respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD.
Emergency room visits for respiratory issues spike significantly during wildfire events, sometimes doubling in affected areas. The 2023 Canadian wildfires, which spread smoke across large portions of the US, caused a nearly 20% surge in emergency room visits for asthma-related complications. Beyond respiratory effects, smoke exposure has been linked to an uptick in cardiovascular emergencies and may contribute to long-term health issues, including a higher risk of dementia.
The ongoing wildfires also make accessing routine healthcare increasingly difficult. Road closures, power outages, and air quality concerns disrupt scheduled medical appointments and procedures. New research from the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute and the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge reveals that the Palisades, Hurst, and Eaton wildfires have far-reaching effects, extending beyond the evacuation zones to disproportionately impact Latino and underserved communities across Los Angeles County.
Latino neighborhoods face nearly double the exposure to PM2.5 pollution compared to white neighborhoods, and asthma-related ER visits in these areas are over 2.5 times higher. Those with outdoor occupations, comprising 17% of residents in Latino neighborhoods, are at a heightened risk of respiratory illness and income loss due to wildfire smoke and work disruptions. These disruptions affect vulnerable populations who already face barriers to accessing care and exacerbate health disparities.
Wildfire smoke poses a hazard to everyone, but some individuals are more susceptible to its effects. Children, for instance, inhale more air relative to their body size, making them more susceptible to pollutants. Pregnant individuals face increased risks of preterm birth and lower birth weights, which can lead to health challenges for the children and parents later in life. Older adults, people with chronic illnesses, and first responders who endure prolonged exposure to heavy smoke also face heightened health risks.
A first-of-its-kind study by the Wildfire Conservancy is examining how extreme conditions during the Palisades fire increase firefighters’ risk of cancer. As part of the research, 50 firefighters are providing blood and urine samples and wearing silicone wristbands designed to absorb contaminants like ash and soot for testing. Researchers hope these findings will lead to better protective gear and long-term interventions to safeguard firefighters.
The impact of climate change-induced wildfires can have a lasting effect on mental health and wellness as well. Adolescents and young adults, in particular, are increasingly reporting anxiety and fear tied to climate instability and its repercussions. These mental health challenges can persist long after the fires are extinguished, underscoring the widespread and lasting impact of these events.
Public health initiatives, emergency preparedness, and individual precautions—such as using air purifiers, wearing N95 masks, and reducing outdoor activities during smoky conditions—are essential to protecting vulnerable populations. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical importance of emergency preparedness, yet the challenges posed by wildfires reveal significant gaps that remain unaddressed.
Compounding these gaps, the escalating impacts of climate change are introducing unprecedented risks—such as prolonged wildfire seasons and smoke exposure over vast regions. They demand innovative approaches to disaster readiness and healthcare resilience. Healthcare systems and policymakers must also address the barriers to care created by these crises, ensuring that residents can access both emergency and routine healthcare when it is needed most.
RELATED LINKS
Becker’s:
Public health emergency declared over LA wildfires: 7 updates
Kaiser Family Foundation:
Climate Change Threatens the Mental Well-Being of Youths. Here’s How To Help Them Cope.
Los Angeles Times:
Hazardous smoke is making it tough to breathe in L.A. Some of the worst air quality is found downwind of the Eaton fire
NPR:
LA wildfires bring another health hazard: smoke
Medpage:
Wildfires Blanket Southern California With Smoky Air, Threatening Health of Millions
