Study Reveals California Wildfires Linked to 400 More Deaths

(MENAFN) A new analysis has found that the Southern California wildfires in early 2025 led to over 400 additional deaths, underscoring a far greater public health impact than previously reported.

According to a study released Wednesday by JAMA Network Open, a journal of the American Medical Association, while official records cite 30 direct fatalities from the devastating Los Angeles-area wildfires, the actual death toll between January 5 and February 1 may be as high as 440.

“While there were only 30 direct fatalities from the Los Angeles wildfires, this study estimates that 440 deaths from January 5 to February 1, 2025, were attributable to the wildfires,” the study stated.

Researchers attribute this excess mortality to prolonged exposure to toxic air pollutants and systemic disruptions in healthcare access caused by the fires.

“These additional deaths likely reflect a combination of factors, including increased exposure to poor air quality and healthcare delays and interruptions,” the study noted.

Lead researcher Andrew Stokes emphasized the understated impact during an interview with media, saying the estimates place "the real burden far above the official toll."

“As we all know, the wildfire smoke contains many toxic substances and particles, so those who were on the front lines, as well as affected communities, were exposed to many things that could increase their risk for disease later on,” Stokes added.

The study also calls for more sophisticated methods of tracking mortality related to climate events.

“The findings from this study underscore the need to complement direct fatalities estimates with alternative methods to quantify the additional mortality burden of wildfires and of climate-related emergencies more broadly,” it said.

“They also highlight the need for improved mortality surveillance during and after wildfire emergencies.”

Still, the researchers cautioned that the findings are based on preliminary data and may not capture the full scope of the crisis.

However, the study acknowledged several limitations, noting that the findings are based on preliminary data, may not account for excess deaths occurring after the study period, and could be influenced by unmeasured confounding factors.

Further studies are needed to assess long-term effects and specific causes of the spike in mortality, it concluded.

The deadly Eaton and Palisades wildfires erupted on January 7, triggered by severe drought conditions and gale-force winds.

The Palisades Fire, which broke out in Pacific Palisades east of Malibu, rapidly spread across neighborhoods, burning 23,448 acres, destroying 6,837 structures, and damaging more than 1,000 others, according to Cal Fire.

Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire ignited in the Angeles National Forest foothills before advancing into Altadena. It scorched 14,021 acres, with urban zones accounting for nearly 4,000 acres of the burn. Flames leveled 9,418 structures, including historic buildings in Altadena, according to the report.

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