Los Angeles Wildfires Response

On January 7, a series of wildfires broke out across Los Angeles County, causing 29 deaths, displacing some 200,000 people and burning more than 16,000 homes and businesses. Fueled by dry conditions and high winds, these fires were not fully contained until January 31. Considered the most destructive in California history, the fires scorched about 50,000 acres, decimating entire neighborhoods and leaving others uninhabitable. Of the 14 wildfires that burned across Southern California between January 7 and 31, 2025, seven of the most devastating were in Los Angeles County.

The wildfires reshaped communities, strained health systems and deepened existing health vulnerabilities, leaving Los Angeles County grappling with urgent and ongoing challenges. Tens of thousands of people, including members of vulnerable populations, are still struggling to find dignified shelter amid the worsening housing crisis.

Smoke severely degraded air and water quality, triggering respiratory and cardiovascular complications, as crowded conditions in shelters led to high rates of infectious disease. Wildfires destroyed five health facilities and forced more than 30 to reduce operations, severely limiting access to essential care.

Mental health needs skyrocketed across Southern California, with millions continuing to suffer from anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other conditions.

International Medical Corps Response

Headquartered in Los Angeles since our founding four decades ago, International Medical Corps immediately responded, working closely with local partners to deliver lifesaving aid and fill critical gaps—reaching more than 66,000 people directly and 141,038 people indirectly with essential health resources and services. As of May 2025, we have:

• partnered with 16 different organizations and resource-access sites to provide urgently needed medical and non-medical supplies;
• deployed 58 medical and mental health professionals—many of whom are Los Angeles and California locals—to provide critical care in shelters, community distribution centers and re-entry points;
• delivered more than 76,400 relief and recovery items, including masks, air purifiers and first-aid, hygiene and wound-care kits, among other items;
• conducted 2,765 health and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) consultations; and
• supported three health clinic networks and provided more than 100 frontline health workers, staff and patients with housing assistance and other needs.

We deployed an emergency medical team (EMT) within 24 hours of the fires’ outbreak to assess conditions and begin work with local authorities and partners on a coordinated response. As part of that effort, from January 17 to February 16, we:

• deployed nine physicians, 33 nurses and 16 mental health workers;
• provided services in three Red Cross-managed shelters—at the Westwood Recreation Center, Pasadena Convention Center and College of the Canyons—and 10 community hubs, distribution sites and re-entry points; and
• reached 3,777 evacuees with health and mental health services in both English and Spanish.

The wildfires led to loss and uncertainty for hundreds of thousands of people across Los Angeles County, resulting in a surge in mental health concerns. Our EMT also:

• conducted 1,261 MHPSS consultations, with 3,145 people reached via outreach services;
• developed and distributed tailored mental health resources, designed for first responders and affected communities, including our free online course on psychological first aid (PFA), audio exercises, other practical skill-building tools and more; and
• provided one-on-one support to affected communities—listening to their concerns, administering PFA and sharing coping techniques for trauma and loss.