A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reveals that the wildfires in Los Angeles at the beginning of 2025 resulted in an estimated 440 additional deaths, significantly higher than the official toll of 31 fatalities.

The research analyzed death data from January 5 to February 1, 2025, during the Palisades and Eaton fires, suggesting that these excess deaths were likely due to poor air quality and disruptions in healthcare access.

During the wildfire period, researchers noted a nearly 7% increase in deaths, with many cases related to exacerbated lung and heart conditions.

The study underscores the growing frequency and intensity of wildfires due to climate change, highlighting the significant health risks posed by smoke, particularly to vulnerable populations such as the elderly, pregnant women, and children.

Researchers advocate for improved mortality surveillance during and after wildfire emergencies to better capture the full extent of their effects and the mortality burden associated with such climate-related events.

The study emphasizes the difficulty of accurately attributing deaths to wildfires, as many consequences remain unmeasured, including long-term health effects from smoke exposure.

Previous studies have indicated that wildfire smoke exposure has resulted in thousands of premature deaths from fine particulate matter over the years, further emphasizing the need for comprehensive assessments.

This research coincides with ongoing wildfires across the US and Canada, which are affecting air quality in major cities such as Chicago and New York.

In related findings, studies on the 2023 Maui wildfires revealed that 22% of adults in the region experienced reduced lung function, and half reported symptoms of depression, showcasing the broader health impacts of such disasters.

The Maui studies also reported a staggering 46% increase in suicide and overdose rates across Hawaii in August 2023, with a 97% increase specifically in Maui, highlighting the urgent need for timely interventions during wildfire recovery efforts.

The authors of the study emphasize the importance of accounting for both direct and indirect fatalities when evaluating the impact of wildfires and other climate-related events.

Researchers acknowledged limitations in their study, including reliance on provisional data and the exclusion of deaths occurring after February 1.