A new study has found that firefighters who battled Los Angeles’ January 2025 fires show biological signs of stress and chemical exposure that could increase their risk of long-term illness.
The research, conducted by the Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study (FFCCS), examined blood samples from firefighters who responded to the Palisades and Eaton fires – two huge blazes that erupted on 7th January and tore through more than 37,000 acres before being fully contained at the end of the month.
More than 7,500 firefighters worked to contain the flames, many without respiratory protection. Researchers say those conditions exposed them to dangerous levels of pollutants, including fine particles, heavy metals and volatile chemicals released from burning buildings, plastics and vehicles.
Using blood samples collected both before and after the fires, the team analysed over 11,000 proteins in each firefighter’s serum. They found that 60 proteins had changed significantly after the response – most showing increases linked to inflammation, oxidative stress and the body’s detoxification processes.
First author Melissa Furlong from the Zuckerman College of Public Health said: ‘In this study, we wanted to get a big picture of what the health effects were for the firefighters who were responding to wildland-urban interface fires. We decided to look at changes in blood protein signatures.
‘Our research identified changes in proteins that were concerning for lots of different reasons. They indicated a broad suite of possible health effects from exposure to these large urban conflagration fires. These were particularly bad fires, given the amount burned and the length of time.’
The research team reported: ‘These biological shifts tell us that the firefighters’ bodies were reacting to chemical exposures, not just physical exertion. The pattern we’re seeing is consistent with oxidative stress and inflammation that can lead to disease over time.’
Several of the most affected proteins are involved in energy metabolism and DNA repair – functions often disrupted by environmental toxins. Pathways tied to immune system disorders, including lupus and those linked to cancer risk were also activated.
The researchers noted similarities between the health patterns emerging among Los Angeles firefighters and those documented in first responders to the 9/11 World Trade Center disaster. ‘Many firefighters have called these fires a ‘West Coast 9/11,’ and our findings suggest the potential for comparable long-term consequences,’ the study stated.
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