Case study: Huntington Hospital and the Eaton Canyon fire
Abstract
This paper describes how Huntington Hospital, a Level II Trauma Center in Los Angeles County, responded to the Eaton Canyon fire in early January 2025. Best practices will be presented that detail how the emergency department managed an unannounced surge, how alternative care sites were quickly activated to provide care for a large number of skilled nursing facility (SNF) residents, and strategies for ensuring adequate staffing when a sizable percentage of employees were affected by evacuation mandates and school closures. The paper offers considerations for effective communication, rapid deployment of plans and resources to support affected staff, placement of displaced SNF residents, and ensuring safe air quality inside the hospital. Impacts on hospitals related to past wildfire incidents are examined and applied to the actions taken by Huntington Hospital’s leadership team during this event. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.
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Author's Biography
MBA-HCM, BSN, RN leads the development, implementation, and testing of disaster preparedness and business continuity plans at Huntington Hospital, California, USA, to ensure organisational resilience in the face of emergencies. With an extensive background in emergency nursing and healthcare management, Jennifer brings a clinical perspective to her work in emergency preparedness. She organises and supports leadership response to critical incidents and has been instrumental in coordinating large-scale training exercises, including multiple active shooter response drills in collaboration with local law enforcement and fire departments. Jennifer’s focus is on minimising operational disruptions while enhancing staff readiness and patient safety during crises.
RN, BSN, MICN, is the Manager of the Emergency Department at Huntington Hospital, California, USA, where he has served for the past nine years. Over the course of his tenure, Ryan has held progressive roles within the department, including bedside nurse, clinical educator, and charge nurse, before transitioning into leadership three years ago and being appointed Emergency Department (ED) Manager in 2025. He remains actively engaged in clinical practice and maintains certifications as a Mobile Intensive Care Nurse and in ultrasound-guided IV placement. He is also a Certified Nurse Manager and Leader. Ryan has played a key role in emergency preparedness and response efforts. On the night of the Eaton Canyon fire, he served as the ED’s clinical supervisor, supporting rapid triage operations, conducting needs assessments, and assisting in the expansion of care areas to meet surge demands. In recognition of his experience and leadership in disaster response, he was invited to serve as a keynote speaker at the 2025 California Hospital Association Disaster Planning Conference. Prior to his nursing career, Ryan worked as an emergency medical technician for a 911 response ambulance company, an experience that continues to inform his approach to emergency care, team leadership, and system readiness.
Citation
Waldron, Jennifer and Speicher, Ryan (2026, August 6). Case study: Huntington Hospital and the Eaton Canyon fire. In the Journal of Business Continuity & Emergency Planning, Volume 20, Issue 1. https://doi.org/10.69554/RQHM9737.
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