Logan Reid
In January 2025, wildfires raged across Los Angeles County, California, threatening hospitals and healthcare facilities and forcing the temporary closure or suspension of services. The blazes, including the Palisades Fire, the Eaton Fire, and the Hurst Fire, destroyed thousands of structures and forced the evacuation of over 150,000 residents. While no reports explicitly mentioned hospitals burning down, the fires impacted hospitals and healthcare systems, causing delays in surgeries, closures of clinics, and evacuations. The full extent of the damage caused by the wildfires is yet to be determined.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the fire incident | 7 January 2025 |
| Location | Los Angeles County |
| Fire Outbreaks | Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, Hurst Fire, Woodley Fire, Lidia Fire, Sunset Fire |
| Affected Hospitals | Providence St. John's Health Center, St. John's Physician Partners, Adventist Health, Kaiser Permanente, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Huntington Hospital, UCLA Health, Los Angeles General Medical Center, Olive-View Medical Center, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center |
| Affected Clinics | Specialty care clinics in Encino and Santa Monica, Providence outpatient offices, Kaiser Permanente clinics, Cedars-Sinai outpatient offices, San Gabriel Valley VA Clinic, AltaMed Health Services clinic in Pasadena |
| Impact | Over 10,000 structures destroyed, over 150,000 residents evacuated, power outages, air quality issues, patient evacuations and treatment for burns, smoke inhalation and eye irritation |
| Response | Expansion of telehealth services, relief operations by NGOs and healthcare providers, virtual appointments, provision of masks and essential supplies |
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What You'll Learn
Primary care and pediatric clinic, Providence Health & Services, burned down
In January 2025, Los Angeles County was ravaged by wildfires, with three active blazes breaking out on 7 January and subsequently destroying tens of thousands of acres and forcing the evacuation of over 150,000 residents. The largest wildfire, the Palisades Fire, burned more than 17,000 acres, becoming the most destructive in Los Angeles' history. The Eaton Fire and the Hurst Fire also ravaged thousands of acres, with smaller blazes, including the Woodley Fire, Lidia Fire, and Sunset Fire, starting on 8 January.
The wildfires had a devastating impact on the region's healthcare infrastructure. A primary care clinic burned down, medical offices closed, and hospitals struggled with potential evacuations. Specifically, the St. John's Physician Partners, a primary care and pediatric clinic affiliated with Providence Health & Services, was burned down. Providence St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, one of the group's major hospitals in the Los Angeles area, was close to evacuating and had to call other hospitals to find space for patients who would be displaced. Patricia Aidem, a spokesperson for Providence Health & Services, noted the challenges faced by the healthcare group during this time.
The AltaMed Health Services clinic in Pasadena was also destroyed by the Eaton wildfire, and AltaMed had to close five additional sites due to evacuations. The California Primary Care Association reported that the fires exacerbated health inequities, particularly in communities with chronic shortages of primary care. The impact of power outages further strained local health resources.
Despite these challenges, healthcare providers continued to deliver vital care to those affected by the wildfires. Doctors and nurses pressed ahead, ensuring that their patients were taken care of even as their own homes were at risk. Some hospitals, such as Adventist Health, remained fully operational, and organizations like Direct Relief mobilized to provide medical aid and emergency supplies to those in need.
Overall, the wildfires in Los Angeles County in January 2025 had a significant impact on the region's healthcare system, with the Primary Care and Pediatric Clinic, Providence Health & Services, being among the healthcare facilities affected by the fires.
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Hospitals struggled with possible evacuations
In January 2025, Los Angeles County was ravaged by wildfires, with the largest being the Palisades Fire, which broke out in the west Los Angeles Palisades community. The fire burned more than 17,000 acres, destroyed thousands of structures, and forced the evacuation of over 150,000 residents. The Eaton Fire burned 10,600 acres on the city's north, while the Hurst Fire spread across 855 acres in the county's northwest region.
The wildfires had a significant impact on hospitals and healthcare facilities in the region. While no reports of hospitals burning down surfaced, hospitals struggled with possible evacuations as the fires raged. Providence St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, one of the largest hospitals in the area, came dangerously close to evacuating. They contacted other hospitals to arrange accommodations for patients who might be displaced.
The San Fernando Community Health Center closed on January 8 due to evacuation concerns for staff. The Northeast Valley Health Corporation CHC sites remained operational, except for one site that closed due to a power outage. As of January 23, 2025, 30 CHC clinics had closed for safety reasons, and many CHC staff members lost their homes.
The fires also caused the closure of several hospitals and health care facilities in Southern California. Adventist Health's hospital in Glendale, near the Eaton Fire, remained open, but its urgent care and pediatric location in Montrose were temporarily closed. Hospitals across Los Angeles County reported treating patients for burns, smoke inhalation, and eye irritation in their emergency rooms.
The wildfires placed immense strain on Los Angeles' healthcare infrastructure, with hospitals and health centers struggling to balance patient care and staff safety while facing potential evacuations.
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Hospitals treated patients for burns, smoke inhalation, and eye irritation
In January 2025, Los Angeles was ravaged by wildfires, with three active fires burning across thousands of acres and causing tens of thousands of evacuations. The blazes torched more than 50 square miles, incinerated thousands of structures, and destroyed beloved cultural landmarks. The fires also took lives and forced 150,000 residents to evacuate.
The impact of the wildfires on LA's healthcare system was significant. While no reports of hospitals burning down surfaced, hospitals struggled with possible evacuations, power outages, and staff shortages as doctors and health workers lost their homes or had to evacuate.
Despite these challenges, hospitals across LA County continued to treat patients. Emergency rooms saw patients with burns, smoke inhalation, and eye irritation. The Children's Hospital Los Angeles closed two of its specialty care clinics in Encino and Santa Monica due to the wildfires' impact, while Providence shut down several others.
Smoke inhalation, a common injury during wildfires, can cause a burning sensation in the nose or throat, increased sputum production, coughing, stridor, and dyspnea with rhonchi or wheezing. It can also lead to more severe complications, such as respiratory failure, pneumonia, bronchiectasis, and bronchiolitis obliterans. The magnitude of smoke inhalation injuries is devastating, with a more significant impact on mortality than either patient age or surface area burned.
Hospitals in LA County faced a daunting task in treating patients with burns and smoke inhalation injuries while also dealing with staff shortages and the constant threat of evacuations. The healthcare infrastructure was strained, but providers persevered and found ways to deliver vital care to those affected by the wildfires.
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Clinics closed due to power outages
Wildfires in Los Angeles have impacted hospitals and clinics in the area, leading to evacuations, closures, and power outages. While hospitals have remained operational, several health systems have had to close clinical locations and physician offices due to the impact of the fires and power outages.
On January 10, 2025, the West Valley Health Center in Los Angeles County closed due to a power outage. UCLA Health also closed some of its clinics in Pasadena and on LA's Westside due to "utility shutoffs." Additionally, Children's Hospital Los Angeles closed two of its specialty care clinics in Encino and Santa Monica due to power outages, wind storms, and wildfires. Providence also shut down several clinics during this time.
The San Fernando Community Health Center closed on January 8, 2025, due to evacuation concerns for staff. One of its sites also closed due to a power outage. As of that date, 30 CHC clinics had closed for safety reasons, and an untold number of CHC staff had lost their homes.
The AltaMed Health Services clinic in Pasadena was destroyed by the Eaton wildfire, and AltaMed had to close five additional sites due to evacuation. The Glendale campus of a hospital system also closed a clinic near the Eaton fire.
These power outages and clinic closures have had a significant impact on patient care and exacerbated health inequities, particularly in communities with limited access to primary care. Continuous power shut-offs and prolonged outages lasting longer than 72 hours have disrupted critical health services and posed challenges for patients reliant on electrically powered medical devices.
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Hospitals postponed elective surgeries
On January 7, 2025, a series of wildfires began in Los Angeles County, California, causing widespread destruction and displacement. The largest of these, the Palisades Fire, broke out in the west Los Angeles Palisades community, burning over 17,000 acres and becoming the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles' history. The Eaton Fire, the Hurst Fire, and several smaller blazes also contributed to the devastation, collectively incinerating thousands of structures and forcing the evacuation of over 150,000 residents.
The wildfires had a significant impact on hospitals and healthcare facilities in the region. While no reports explicitly mentioned hospitals burning down, the fires directly affected hospitals and their ability to provide care. Hospitals struggled with possible evacuations, staff shortages, and power outages. Several hospitals and health care facilities in southern California temporarily closed or suspended services.
In the face of these challenges, hospitals worked to ensure the continuity of patient care. Some hospitals postponed elective surgeries and procedures, prioritizing urgent and life-threatening medical conditions. Hospitals such as Adventist Health's hospital in Glendale, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and Providence St. John's Health Center remained open and operational, even as they navigated challenges such as staff evacuations and power outages.
The impact of the wildfires extended beyond the immediate closure and evacuation of healthcare facilities. The smoke from the wildfires affected the air quality in Los Angeles, leading to an increase in patients with respiratory issues and eye irritation. Hospitals expanded virtual appointments and telehealth services to maintain access for patients impacted by evacuations and poor air quality. They also provided medical services at evacuation sites and mobilized to support their staff and communities by distributing masks, protective gear, and other essential supplies.
The wildfires highlighted the resilience and dedication of healthcare professionals in Los Angeles. Despite their own personal losses and the strain on resources, many doctors and nurses pressed ahead, prioritizing the care of their patients. The response to the wildfires underscored the importance of adequate emergency response programs and the critical role played by hospitals and healthcare providers in the aftermath of natural disasters.
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Frequently asked questions
No hospitals burned down, but a primary care clinic and a pediatric clinic were destroyed by the fires.
Hospitals across LA County treated patients for burns, smoke inhalation, and eye irritation. More than 700 people were evacuated from nursing homes and care facilities. Hospitals struggled with possible evacuations, but most remained operational.
The wildfires caused power outages, which led to the closure of some hospitals and clinics. Hospitals postponed elective surgeries and procedures and expanded virtual appointments. The smoke from the wildfires also affected the air quality in LA, impacting residents' health.
