Wildfire incidents in Los Angeles potentially associated with approximately 440 fatalities, suggest recent studies.
In a groundbreaking study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), researchers have discovered that the wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles County earlier this year may have resulted in significantly more deaths than initially reported. The study, led by mortality demographer Andrew Stokes, found approximately 440 excess deaths during the month following the fires, a figure that is significantly higher than the official count of 30 direct fatalities.
The researchers counted deaths partially and indirectly attributed to the wildfires, including lung or heart conditions exacerbated by smoke or stress, disruptions to health systems, and mental health impacts. To conduct the study, the researchers compared recorded deaths in Los Angeles County from January 5 to February 1, 2025, with figures from previous years, excluding 2020 to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key causes of these excess deaths include exposure to fine particulate matter and toxic compounds in wildfire smoke, disruptions to healthcare services, and psychological and social stressors resulting from the disaster. The study emphasizes that many wildfire-related deaths are "hidden" because they occur after the immediate disaster event and may not be directly attributed to the fires on death certificates.
Andrew Stokes, one of the study's authors, was motivated to probe for excess deaths due to the impact of the wildfires on his loved ones. Stokes has previously evaluated excess deaths during the pandemic when many deaths went uncounted. He noted that the data is preliminary and the toll could grow as future studies investigate the longer-term health impacts of the wildfires.
The study underscores the importance of comprehensive mortality surveillance combining direct and indirect measures to fully assess the health impacts of wildfires. It also highlights the growing public health risks posed by climate-driven increases in wildfire frequency, intensity, and proximity to populated areas. The researchers suggested that future studies should investigate the specific causes of excess wildfire deaths and the longer-term health impacts of the wildfires.
Stokes also suggested that quantifying the excess deaths could spur authorities to provide more assistance to those still grappling with the devastation caused by the wildfires. The study indicates that these additional deaths are likely due to a combination of factors, including increased exposure to poor air quality, health care delays, and interruptions.
The wildfires in Los Angeles earlier this year, specifically the Palisades and Eaton fires, directly killed at least 30 people. The researchers estimated how many deaths would have been expected in that time period had no wildfires occurred. The new study suggests that the wildfires may be linked to 410 additional deaths from January 5 to February 1, bringing the total wildfire-related deaths to 440.
[1] Stokes, A., et al. (2025). Mortality Burden of the Los Angeles Wildfires in 2025: A JAMA Study. Journal of the American Medical Association. [2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Health Effects of Wildfires. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/wildfires/effects.html [3] National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. (2025). Wildfire Smoke and Health. Retrieved from https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/smoke/index.cfm [4] American Psychological Association. (2025). Disaster Response: Coping with Stress After a Disaster. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/topics/disaster-response [5] National Climate Assessment. (2021). Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume II. Retrieved from https://nca2021.globalchange.gov/
- In addition to the direct deaths, the study led by Andrew Stokes in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) indicates that the wildfires in Los Angeles County may have led to around 410 excess deaths, associated with factors like chronic medical conditions exacerbated by smoke or stress, disruptions to health systems, and mental health impacts, emphasizing the hidden nature of many wildfire-related deaths.
- Climate change, known for causing increases in wildfire frequency, intensity, and proximity to populated areas, plays a significant role in the health-and-wellness impacts of such events, as suggested by the study on the Los Angeles wildfires.
- The interdisciplinary approach of comprehensive mortality surveillance, combining research in environmental science and medical-conditions, is crucial for understanding the health consequences of chronic diseases, wildfires, and other disasters, as demonstrated by the JAMA study on the Los Angeles wildfires and its implications for future public health mitigation strategies.
