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A Community-Based Assessment of Attitudes, Health Impacts and Protective Actions During the 24-Day Hangar Fire in Tustin, California

Author

Listed:
  • Shahir Masri

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA)

  • Alana M. W. LeBrón

    (Department of Health, Society, and Behavior, Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
    Department of Chicano/Latino Studies, School of Social Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA)

  • Annie Zhang

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA)

  • Lisa B. Jones

    (Institute for Clinical & Translational Science, The University of California, Irvine, CA 92617, USA)

  • Oladele A. Ogunseitan

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
    Department of Population Health & Disease Prevention, Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92617, USA)

  • Jun Wu

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA)

Abstract

Fire events can impact physical and mental health through smoke exposure, evacuation, property loss, and/or other environmental stressors. In this study, we developed community-driven, cross-sectional online surveys to assess public attitudes, health impacts, and protective actions of residents affected by the Tustin hangar fire that burned for 24 days in southern California. Results showed the most frequently reported fire-related exposure concerns (93%) to be asbestos and general air pollution and the most commonly reported mental health impacts to be anxiety (41%), physical fatigue (37%), headaches (33%), and stress (26%). Nose/sinus irritation was the most commonly reported (26.0%) respiratory symptom, while skin- and eye-related conditions were reported by 63.0% and 72.2% of the survey population, respectively. The most commonly reported health-protective actions taken by residents included staying indoors and/or closing doors and windows (67%), followed by wearing face masks (37%) and the indoor use of air purifiers (35%). A higher proportion of low-income residents had to spend money on remediation or other health-protective actions compared to high-income residents. Participants overwhelmingly reported disapproval of their city’s and/or government’s response to the fire disaster. Findings from this study underscore the potential impacts of major pollution events on neighboring communities and offer critical insights to better position government agencies to respond during future disasters while effectively communicating with the public and addressing community needs.

Suggested Citation

  • Shahir Masri & Alana M. W. LeBrón & Annie Zhang & Lisa B. Jones & Oladele A. Ogunseitan & Jun Wu, 2025. "A Community-Based Assessment of Attitudes, Health Impacts and Protective Actions During the 24-Day Hangar Fire in Tustin, California," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(7), pages 1-24, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:7:p:1003-:d:1687622
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marc Oliver Rieger & Mei Wang, 2022. "Trust in Government Actions During the COVID-19 Crisis," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 159(3), pages 967-989, February.
    2. Shahir Masri & Erica Scaduto & Yufang Jin & Jun Wu, 2021. "Disproportionate Impacts of Wildfires among Elderly and Low-Income Communities in California from 2000–2020," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-20, April.
    3. Rodolfo Sapiains & Ana María Ugarte & Paulina Aldunce & Germant Marchant & Javier Alberto Romero & Mauro E. González & Valentina Inostroza-Lazo, 2020. "Local Perceptions of Fires Risk and Policy Implications in the Hills of Valparaíso, Chile," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-17, May.
    4. Stefanie S. Schulze & Erica C. Fischer & Sara Hamideh & Hussam Mahmoud, 2020. "Wildfire impacts on schools and hospitals following the 2018 California Camp Fire," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 104(1), pages 901-925, October.
    5. Cassandra Johnson Gaither & Sadia Afrin & Fernando Garcia-Menendez & M. Talat Odman & Ran Huang & Scott Goodrick & Alan Ricardo da Silva, 2019. "African American Exposure to Prescribed Fire Smoke in Georgia, USA," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-15, August.
    6. Alana M. W. LeBrón & Ivy R. Torres & Enrique Valencia & Miriam López Dominguez & Deyaneira Guadalupe Garcia-Sanchez & Michael D. Logue & Jun Wu, 2019. "The State of Public Health Lead Policies: Implications for Urban Health Inequities and Recommendations for Health Equity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-28, March.
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