As we watch Los Angeles continue to battle devasting wildfires, our thoughts and support are with our neighboring communities. We can truly empathize — the harrowing scenes in Los Angeles evoke memories of the 2003 Cedar Fire that ravaged San Diego County.
The Cedar Fire began on Oct. 25, 2003, and rapidly burned across more than 273,000 acres. The blaze destroyed more than 2,800 structures — homes, businesses, and entire neighborhoods were razed. Fifteen people lost their lives. Similarly, the Los Angeles fires have led to significant loss of life and widespread destruction of property. Both events were exacerbated by tinder dry conditions and strong Santa Ana winds.
During the Cedar Fire crisis, San Diego hospitals played a pivotal role in the response. Emergency departments (EDs) were inundated with patients suffering from burns, smoke inhalation, and other fire-related injuries. Hospitals came together in several ways: mutual aid, establishing strong communication and support for each other and the community, taking additional patients when needed, diverting ambulances from overwhelmed EDs, loaning supplies, and more. Hospital CEOs engaged in unprecedented collaboration to support each other and the regional response. And cross communication was significantly strengthened among hospitals, government, emergency operations centers, and evacuation centers.
Today, hospitals in Los Angeles are demonstrating similar resilience, resourcefulness, and commitment. They are treating individuals affected by the fires, assisting in the safe evacuation of vulnerable populations, managing the health impacts of poor air quality, offering psychological support to help victims cope with the trauma, and much more. Many hospital staff members are dealing with personal losses from the fires — including losing their homes — yet they continue to put their communities first.
The parallels between these events are a powerful reminder of the vital role hospitals play in protecting and healing our communities, and they underscore the shared challenges we face in California. In the aftermath of the Cedar Fire, hospitals, emergency responders, and the community emerged better prepared for subsequent large-scale emergencies. Our experiences in San Diego have equipped us with valuable insights into disaster response.
As health care leaders and Californians, we share a collective responsibility to confront these crises together. Resilience is not built in isolation — it’s forged through collaboration, shared knowledge, and mutual support. We stand with Los Angeles hospitals and their extraordinary efforts to protect and heal their communities during this devastating crisis.