When the Playground Was Coated in Ash - The Impact of the January 2025 Wildfires on Los Angeles Child Care Programs

Oct 15, 2026

Upload by Jake

Report documenting how the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires affected early childhood care programs in Los Angeles County, using survey data from early educators gathered about three months after the fires. The study identifies air quality as the most significant disruption, with family child care providers reporting the strongest combined health and financial effects. Results also show temporary closures, elevated anxiety, selective use of mental health supports, and limited observable behavior changes among children, who sometimes integrated the experience into play.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Key Findings

About the Data

Air Quality Impacts and Program Facilities

When the Playground Was Coated in Ash The Impact of the January 2025 Wildfires on Los Angeles Child Care Programs Wanzi Muruvi Elena Ojeda Carly Hyland Anna Powell Abby Copeman Petig 2 Report March 2026 The January 2025 wildfires are considered the most catastrophic in the history of Los Angeles County. Nearly 37,500 acres burned across six zip codes, resulting in 29 deaths and thousands of structures destroyed, including 13,000 housing units (Lapinski et al., 2025; Li & Yu, 2025). Financial losses to businesses, workers, and households are estimated in the billions of dollars (Li & Yu, 2025). These statistics include child care programs, many of which are independent small businesses. To assess the impact of the Los Angeles wildfires on local child care programs, the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment (CSCCE) surveyed early educators in late spring of 2025, about three months after the wildfires, as part of the California Early Care and Education Workforce Study. The survey included a module that asked early educators in Los Angeles County about how the fire impacted them personally, their programs, and the families and children they serve. In this report, we present data on the impacts of the January 2025 wildfires on Los Angeles child care programs. While some educatorsin our sample reported service disruptions and financial losses, the greatest impact was poor air quality. Wildfires that burn in urban environments release particulate matter, toxic compounds, and other elements that can travel long distances and pose significant health risks to people well beyond the burn zone (Bazina et al., 2025; Clemens, 2025). Some of these compounds can adhere to indoor materials and surfaces, and evidence suggests that the health risks of wildfire exposure can persist for months, if not years (Reid, 2025). Our results also show that family child care (FCC) providers, whose homes are also their workplaces, felt the financial and health impacts the most. California has experienced wildfires with increasing frequency and severity in recent years, and this trend is expected to intensify due to climate change (Bazina et al., 2025; Clemens, 2025). This study will inform policies that better support child care programs and the workforce during times of crisis and protect the health and well-being of educators and the children in their care from climateinduced environmental risks. Key Findings • While few program administrators and educators reported physical damage to their sites and homes, air quality was a top issue for all. Wildfire impacts were felt most strongly among FCC providers: more than one half (54 percent) of these home-based educators reported experiencing air quality issues, compared with more than one third (37 percent) of center directors. • Many educators experienced temporary program closures and other circumstances that left them anxious and worried. About one quarter of FCC providers and center directors (26 percent and 24 percent, respectively) and one fifth of transitional kindergarten (TK) teaching staff and center teaching staff (21 percent and 17 percent, respectively) reported feeling more anxious and worried than usual since the fires. • Mental health supports helped many educators through the crisis, particularly among center-based educators and TK teaching staff. One quarter (25 percent) of TK teaching staff and one fifth (19 percent) of center-based educators reported using mental health supports, therapy, counseling, or support groups to get through the crisis. • The wildfires created hardships for families, but children still found joy through play. While many educators served families who were displaced or evacuated as a result of the fires, the majority of FCC providers, center teaching staff, and TK teaching staff reported no noticeable changes in children’s behaviors (78 percent, 83 percent, and 76 percent, respectively) . Some early educators noted that children inc

FAQs

What was the most significant impact of the January 2025 wildfires on child care programs?

Air quality was the top issue across programs. Many educators reported health risks related to wildfire smoke, ash, and particulate matter.

Which group reported the strongest effects from the wildfires?

Family child care (FCC) providers reported the largest combined health and financial impacts, with higher shares reporting air quality issues than center directors.

Did the fires noticeably change children’s behavior?

Most early educators reported no noticeable changes in children’s behaviors. Some noted that children incorporated the wildfire experience into their play.

Oct 15, 2026

Upload by Jake