LA Fires' Hidden Toll: Major Health Impacts Revealed

In the 90 days following the destructive Palisades and Eaton fires, Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai hospital observed a significant 46% increase in emergency room visits for heart attack symptoms. Heart attack rates in January 2025 notably surpassed those of previous Januarys, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Residents in areas affected by the fires also reported a 24% increase in pulmonary illnesses and a striking 218% rise in blood test abnormalities. These findings, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, are part of an ongoing project examining the fires' short- and long-term health impacts.

The fires, characterized as wildland-urban interface incidents, combined natural fuels with industrial materials, increasing their harmful potential. Researchers were surprised by the extent of not only respiratory issues but also the rise in heart attacks and blood anomalies, suggesting a widespread biochemical stress impacting multiple organ systems.