A new study published Wednesday by the medical journal JAMA has found that more than 400 deaths can now be attributed to the devasting Southern California wildfires of early 2025, far exceeding the original estimate.
When the Los Angeles fires raged from Jan. 7 to Jan. 31, officials declared 31 direct deaths as a result of the inferno. Yet a new research paper published by JAMA has determined that when factoring in issues such as disruptions to the healthcare system, exacerbated heart and lung conditions due to smoke inhalation, and mental stress, the number swells to 440.
The 14 separate fires were a deadly combination of severe drought conditions and high winds compounded by multiple human errors that eventually burned over 57,000 acres of land and destroyed more than 18,000 structures. The two largest fires, the Eaton Fire in Altadena and the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, were the most destructive. The Eaton Fire burned 14,021 acres and destroyed nearly 10,000 structures, while the Palisades Fire spanned 23,448 acres and destroyed more than 5,000 structures.
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