Wildfire Health Risks Present Challenges for Cancer Patients

Individuals undergoing lung cancer surgery experience extended hospital stays when wildfires occur nearby, compared to periods without wildfires.

New research suggests that lung cancer surgery patients living in areas affected by wildfires may require longer hospital stays and extended recovery times, compared to those in fire-free regions, which may disrupt standard hospital discharge metrics.

Wildfires have become an increasing problem in the United States, wreaking havoc on property, landscapes and the health of both local residents and firefighters, especially in the Southern California region.

Previous research has shown that wildland firefighters are exposed to dozens of cancer-causing chemicals in the course of their work, including particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), crystalline silica, black carbon, asbestos, radionuclides and other metals. In addition, a 2023 study found that exposure to wildfires poses serious risks for lung cancer patients by increasing their possibility of early death.

Now, findings published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute on March 11, indicate that hospitals may need to account for air quality changes due to wildfires for patients undergoing lung cancer surgery, including the potential for longer hospital stays to ensure they have the opportunity to fully recover.

The new study was conducted by researchers from the American Cancer Society, who looked at information from the National Cancer Database for individuals over the age of 18 who underwent surgery for stage I, II or III small cell lung cancer between 2004 and 2021.

The team, which was led by Dr. Leticia M. Nogueira, defined exposure to wildfires by whether a Federal Emergency Management Agency Presidential Disaster Declaration was issued for the county where the surgery occurred between the date of treatment and hospital discharge.

Researchers then compared differences in release dates for patients who were hospitalized during a wildfire emergency and those who were not.

Overall, patients who underwent lung cancer surgery during a wildfire emergency required 9.4 days of recovery, as opposed to only 7.5 days for patients who underwent surgery when there was no wildfire.

The team concluded that further research is needed to determine whether surgical care improved with extended hospital stays. They also recommended tailoring new wildfire disaster guidelines for at-risk patients.

Los Angeles Wildfires

With the wildfires that devastated Los Angeles earlier this year, Nogueira’s research has gained added relevance.

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused unprecedented damage, and investigators now believe that the region’s Eaton Fire and others were likely sparked by Southern California Edison’s electrical infrastructure, which remained active despite severe fire warnings.

The 2025 LA wildfires burned nearly 40,000 acres of land, destroyed thousands of homes, and devastated entire communities. Within weeks after the fires began, the death toll reached 29, with many others injured. More than 30,000 residents evacuated, and losses are expected to exceed billions due to property damage, business disruptions and ongoing displacement.

In response to the extensive damage caused by these wildfires, victims are filing Los Angeles wildfire lawsuits against Southern California Edison (SCE) and other entities, seeking to hold the parties accountable for starting the fires as well as the inadequate response, which contributed to further devastation and loss of life.

LA wildfire lawyers offer free consultations and case evaluations. There are no upfront fees. Individuals should only pay if a recovery is obtained in their case.