The destructive Los Angeles fires in January might be linked to 440 excess deaths, according to an Aug. 6 study by the American Medical Association.
The Palisades and Eaton fires directly caused 31 deaths as flames tore through communities and destroyed homes.
Researchers studied mortality rates in Los Angeles County to find whether the Palisades and Eaton fires caused additional health impacts that contributed to other deaths. They looked at possible lung or heart conditions exacerbated by smoke or stress, or death caused indirectly by disruptions to health systems and mental health impacts.
Weekly deaths consistently exceeded expected deaths in the county from Jan. 5 to Feb. 1, according to the report….