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Wildfire Survivors Still Struggle With Basic Needs and Support

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on April 19, 2025.

By I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter

SATURDAY, April 19, 2025 — Three months after wildfires tore through Los Angeles, a new study offers insight into the lasting needs of fire survivors.

Researchers from UC Davis School of Medicine said their findings from earlier wildfires may help with support efforts in this and future disasters.

They surveyed 2,208 households in the aftermath of a series of Northern California wildfires in 2017 and found that months later, 1,461 had major needs.

The study identified four key areas in which survivors needed help:

• Physical needs: food, water, shelter, clothing, electricity, internet access, gas, money and cell phone service

• Clean air: including access to air filters and masks

• Health: access to care, including mental health care)

• Information access: wildfire status, where to obtain shelter or supplies, the location and well-being of loved ones and navigating insurance paperwork

“Understanding the community needs and impacts that arise during and after wildfires is crucial to identifying the timing, extent and types of assistance that are most needed during response and recovery efforts,” Kathryn Conlon, an associate professor in the UC Davis Department of Public Health Sciences and senior author of the study, said in a news release.

The study, published in the journal Environmental Research: Health, found:

• Physical needs were the most common, both right after the fires and months later. 1 in 2 households had these needs.

• Housing and financial help were among the most enduring problems.

• One in six households reported a health-related need months after the fires.

• More than 25% of respondents needed clean air or supplies like masks and filters immediately after the fires.

• People wanted updates during the fire but later had questions about environmental health.

Mental health issues were especially common. Of the 177 households that mentioned health issues, most said they needed mental health support.

"Unaddressed mental health concerns can have a significant impact on a person’s health and well-being,” Conlon said in a news release. “Integrating support for mental health and health information should be part of any needs assessments during wildfires.”

Conlon recommends tools like "psychological first aid" to help survivors process trauma in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. It emerged as an intervention in the early 2000s.

“Respondents want to know the health impacts of urban wildfires and whether it is safe to return to the burn areas,” Conlon added. “When these fires burn, they are not just burning biomass. They are also burning everything in the home. And we don’t know all the health impacts. We still have so much to learn.”

Study co-author Mira Miles noted how many survivors wanted to support their neighbors, showing a strong sense of community.

“While this is a remarkable social phenomenon, it is important that we strive to meet community needs as best we can following a disaster,” she said.

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted April 2025

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