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9h ago

JAMA Research Reveals 440 Excess Deaths and Lasting Health Harms From Maui and Los Angeles Wildfires

Experts now warn that the hidden toll demands an overhaul of wildfire health surveillance, with long-term support measures for affected communities.

The uncleared lot where a 19th victim of the Eaton Fire was found on July 24, 2025, in Altadena, Calif., bringing the official death toll to 31 more than six months after unprecedented wildfires swept through broad swaths of Los Angeles.
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FILE - Damage from wildfires is seen in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Aug. 11, 2023 . (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
People stand on the stump of a tree lost to the Eaton Fire during a memorial service honoring the 19 people who perished during the fire, on July 7, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. The memorial service was held at the edge of the property where Evelyn McClendon, 59, lived before losing her life in the fire.

Overview

  • A JAMA study estimates 440 excess deaths in Los Angeles County from Jan. 5 to Feb. 1, 2025, compared with the official count of 31 direct fatalities.
  • Researchers link the additional deaths to prolonged exposure to polluted air, toxins from burned infrastructure and delays in critical medical care during the Palisades and Eaton fires.
  • A University of Hawaii–led cohort study found that 22% of survivors near the August 2023 Maui fire exhibited reduced lung function six to 14 months later.
  • A JAMA Network Open paper reported a 97% spike in suicide and overdose rates on Maui during the wildfire month, with half of survivors showing depressive symptoms.
  • Study authors and local officials urge improved mortality tracking, targeted health interventions and sustained support to address the invisible, long-term burdens of climate-driven wildfires.