The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared a public health emergency for California on Friday in response to the health impacts of ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles County. The fires have devastated neighborhoods across the east and west sides of Los Angeles, causing 10 fatalities and destroying nearly 10,000 structures, with those numbers expected to rise.
The declaration grants the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) greater flexibility for health care providers and suppliers to address the emergency health needs of people enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid plans. HHS also announced that its Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) is ready to deploy responders, medical equipment, and supplies if requested by the state.
Earlier this week, President Joe Biden declared the fires a major disaster and pledged that the U.S. government would cover 100% of the recovery costs for the next six months. He reaffirmed his commitment on Friday to providing California with the necessary resources to combat the fires and rebuild.
In Pasadena, Teddy’s Cocina was busy with evacuees seeking refuge from the smoky air that enveloped the city. Dulce Perez, a cook at the restaurant, explained, “It’s not breathable. We just try to stay indoors.” The air was thick with haze on Thursday, just two miles from one of the fires.
As the wildfires continued, authorities issued air quality alerts, canceled school classes, and scientists warned of the serious health risks of wildfire smoke, which can be fatal. The smoke has turned the air in Los Angeles into a lung-irritating cloud, and some residents have taken drastic measures such as taping windows to keep the smoke out. Air purifiers have sold out in some stores, and officials have urged people in areas with visible smoke to stay indoors.
Although conditions improved slightly on 10th January, an air quality alert remained in effect until the evening, and dangerous particulate matter continued to exceed the World Health Organization’s guidelines by four times. At the Pasadena Convention Center, which has been converted into a temporary shelter, aid workers from Sean Penn’s global organization, CORE, distributed N95 masks to evacuees, especially vulnerable populations like the homeless. “There was no place for them to go inside, and so they were suffering even more outside with the poor air quality, without any kind of masks,” said Sunny Lee, Emergency Response Programs Manager.
The fires, ignited by strong winds and fueled by dry vegetation after a long period of drought, have burned over 34,000 acres, or 53 square miles, since 7 January. Some Los Angeles neighbour hoods have been reduced to ash. Wildfire smoke carries harmful gases and particles, making it more toxic than typical air pollution. In addition to burning plants and trees, wildfires destroy buildings, vehicles, and materials containing plastics, fuels, metals, and chemicals, contributing to the toxic nature of the smoke.
