Thank you for joining us for another episode of OccPod,ACOEM’s official podcast. In this episode, Dr. Nabeel is joined by Dr. Mani Berenji to discuss the public health effects of the LA wildfires, which burned from January 7 to 31, 2025. Dr. Berenji discusses her personal experience, both as an occupational and environmental medicine physician in LA and as an Angeleno, and advises on the short- and long-term hazards of the wildfires and site cleanup.
Dr. Berenji recommends this webinar for clinicians, “VirtualGrand Rounds: Southern California Wildfire Response - What Clinicians Need to Know,” available here:
See links below for more public health resources in responseto the Southern California Wildfires.
California Medical Association’s Wildfire Resources: https://www.cmadocs.org/wildfires
U.S. Small Business Association’s Disaster Assistance:
https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance
LA County’s Public Health Fire Safety and Health Information:http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/wildfire/
LA County DPH Health Advisory (January 13, 2025)
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/eprd/lahan/alerts/LAHANFire011325.pdf
Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) SouthernCalifornia Wildfire Response:
https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/Southern-California-Wildfire-Response/Pages/default.aspx
Coalition for Clean Air Wildfire Smoke and Safety Resources
https://www.ccair.org/wildfire-and-smoke-safety-resources/
Protecting yourself during fire cleanup:
https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/cleaning-up-after-the-la-wildfires-is-dangerous-heres-how-to-protect-yourself?utm_campaign=5947416-crisis-communications