Project Firestorm:
Studying Health Impacts of Wildland-Urban Interface Fires in Los Angeles
This study aims to understand the short-term and long-term health effects of exposure to Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) wildfire smoke and what it means for community resilience, disaster response, and environmental health.
The toxic aftermath of wildfires
In January 2025, the Palisades and Eaton firestorms burned over 50,000 acres, destroyed 16,000 homes and structures, and displaced over 150,000 residents of Los Angeles County.
These devastating Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) fires released a complex mix of toxic pollutants, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), as well as toxic metals such as lead, arsenic, mercury, chromium and cadmium.
How do toxics from wildfire smoke affect our health?
Even though WUI fires are happening more often, and are more severe, the long-term health effects of toxic WUI exposures from these disasters are not well understood.
Immediate concerns include effects on respiratory and cardiovascular health, but there is also growing evidence that people may experience mental health challenges – such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression – that continue long after the event.
Help us learn more and inform policies
We seek additional funding to learn more about wildfire smoke and our health. This research will inform local and national policies on wildfire disaster response and public health preparedness while ensuring that communities affected by WUI fires receive the necessary information and resources for long-term recovery.
