UCLA Health hospitals treat around 30 fire-related injuries amid clinic closures

Many UCLA Health clinics have closed in California, from Pacific Palisades to Calabasas. While UCLA Health clinics have been closing, UCLA Health hospitals remain open and operational to treat individuals with wildfire-related injuries. (Leydi Cris Cobo Cordon/Daily Bruin senior staff)

By Shaun Thomas
Jan. 11, 2025 5:04 p.m.
This post was updated Jan. 12 at 8:58 p.m.
UCLA Health hospitals have treated about 30 individuals with injuries related to ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles County.
As of 2:55 p.m. Saturday afternoon, most of the wildfire-related injuries were related to smoke inhalation and burns, with a majority of the patients being released, according to a spokesperson for UCLA Health.
The closest fire to the UCLA campus – the Palisades fire – is currently over 22,000 acres and less than three miles away from the UCLA campus as of Saturday afternoon, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, website. Although evacuation orders have been issued less than a mile from UCLA, the campus is not under an evacuation warning or order as of 4:10 p.m. Saturday.
[Related: LIVE: JANUARY 2025 FIRES]
At least 13 UCLA Health clinics have closed in Alhambra, Calabasas, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena and Simi Valley. When community clinics close, affected patients are notified and offered appointments at alternative locations, a UCLA Health spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
“Clinic closures are variously due to utility shutoffs and fire department evacuation zone proximity,” they said. “We are closely monitoring and continually assessing.”

UCLA Health requests that emergency department visits be reserved for life-threatening conditions, urging patients to contact their primary care physicians for all other concerns.
A Saturday morning email to students living in university-owned housing said students should prepare for a potential evacuation. Undergraduate Students Association Council President Adam Tfayli said transportation to an off-campus location will be offered to all students, including those who do not live in UCLA Housing, if an evacuation is ordered.
UCLA Transportation typically acts under the assumption that it is highly unlikely that the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center will be evacuated, according to UCLA Transportation’s Vehicle Evacuation Plan.
“We must anticipate increased demand for medical services in the event of an emergency, especially an area-wide emergency,” the evacuation plan states. “Emergency vehicles responding to the incident will have priority, and such vehicles may further limit open road space.”
As of 4:15 p.m. Saturday, there is no evacuation order for the medical center, according to the Cal Fire website. However, in the case of an evacuation order, UCLA will continue to coordinate with city, county and state agencies, a spokesperson for UCLA Health said in an emailed statement.
“All UCLA Health hospitals are open and operational,” they said in the statement. “When community clinics close, we contact affected patients and offer appointments at other locations.”