ER Visits for Burns, Eye Issues Rose 8-Fold During Recent L.A. Fires

FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- Los Angeles County residents are still recovering from the devastation of the Palisades and Eaton fires, and new data show that emergency department (ED) visits for wildfire-related issues jumped eight-fold in the days after the fires broke out.

In fact, the new data "likely underestimate the prevalence of wildfire-associated ED encounters," a team led by Emily Kajita of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) concludes.

Fueled by bone-dry conditions and winds reaching gusts of 100 mph, the Palisades and Eaton fires roared through tens of thousands of acres, destroying more than 16,000 structures and killing 29 people.