Post-Wildfire Health Risks: Heart Attacks Spike After Los Angeles Fires

In the first 90 days after the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires, which destroyed entire neighborhoods in Los Angeles, there was a 46% increase in emergency room visits for heart attack symptoms at Cedars-Sinai hospital.

Dr. Susan Cheng, director of public health research at Cedars-Sinai and the study's senior author, noted that heart attack rates in January 2025 surpassed those of all prior Januaries, including during the Covid years.

Residents in the zip codes directly affected by the fires reported a 24% increase in pulmonary illness and a staggering 118% increase in blood test abnormalities. The Palisades fire was the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history, destroying 6,800 structures and resulting in 12 fatalities, while the Eaton fire led to the destruction of over 9,400 structures across Altadena and neighboring areas, with 19 confirmed deaths.

The findings were released in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and are part of ongoing research into the short- and long-term health impacts of the fires. Cheng emphasized that the wildfires resulted in significant respiratory illnesses and unexpectedly high incidences of heart attacks and blood test abnormalities, suggesting a biochemical stress on multiple organ systems.

While some respiratory illnesses were anticipated due to wildfire smoke, the scale of heart attack increases was surprising. The blood test data indicated subtle abnormalities, such as imbalances in electrolytes and changes in kidney and liver function.

The Palisades and Eaton fires, classified as wildland-urban interface fires, spread more easily and burned a mixture of organic and industrial materials. Cheng concluded that there are still many unanswered questions regarding the long-term health effects of these fires, stating, "There's a lot of work to do; we're still working hard to put the pieces together."