Yes, you can sue a liable party for damages in a wildfire. This includes economic damages such as destruction of your home or business in a fire, medical bills due to burns or smoke inhalation, and loss of income from the fire. You can also seek compensation for non-economic damages related to pain and suffering, psychological trauma from your experiences, and lasting changes to your overall quality of life. In California, you’ll typically have two years from the date of the fire to file a civil lawsuit for damages.
The California wildfire damage lawyers of Danko Meredith have a history of representing fire survivors and seeking compensation. We’d like to discuss what kinds of wildfire damages you can sue for in more detail. We’ll also discuss who can be held liable for your loss of property and any injuries or medical conditions caused by a fire.
If you’ve been in a wildfire and want to discuss legal action, we’re ready to listen and more than willing to help. Client don’t pay us unless we can win. To set up a free case review with our California wildfire attorneys, contact our Bay Area law firm today. You can also reach our law office in Redwood City by phone at (650) 453-3600.
Types of Damages in a Wildfire Lawsuit
These are some of the most common economic and non-economic damages in wildfire lawsuits.
Damage to or Destruction of a Home or Business
Wildfire damage to homes and businesses has become all too common in California. As the population grows, developers have built further into the wildland-urban interface. That means more people are close to woodland, hiking trails, and grasslands. Places where wildfires often happen are very close to major population centers in the state.
Loss of Belongings and Other Property in a Fire
Countless belongings can be damaged or destroyed when wildfires devastate a community. This includes parked or abandoned vehicles, clothing, jewelry, electronics, appliances, and countless other trinkets or items in a home. There are also items that are invaluable that could be lost in a wildfire, like photo albums, heirlooms, keepsakes, art from children and relatives, and so much more.
Physical Injuries from a Fire and Impact on Physical Health
If you sustained any kind of physical harm in a wildfire, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the liable party. This includes seeking damages after suffering severe second-degree and third-degree burns. Yet the flames aren’t the only cause for concern. Wildfire smoke is full of dangerous particulate matter and toxic contaminants that can affect your respiratory health and overall wellness. We’ve provided information on how to protect yourself from inhaling wildfire smoke, and fire survivors can seek damages to cover medical expenses for an adverse respiratory condition.
Psychological Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Being in a wildfire or evacuating from your neighborhood can be extremely traumatic. Disasters like this can lead to PTSD as well as lasting effects on your mental health. If you need professional help for your psychological trauma, there is no shame in seeking it. You can seek damages to cover the cost of mental health counseling and therapy, visits to a psychiatrist, and any prescription medications needed for care.
Loss of Wages, Earning Potential, and Other Income
If you were seriously injured, developed a respiratory condition, or have suffered from severe psychological trauma because of your experiences in a wildfire, it can impact your ability to earn a living. You can seek damages to cover any income you were not able to earn because of medical leave. You can also seek damages to cover the loss of future earnings if your ability to perform your job or pursue your career was impacted.
The Cost of Relocation After a Wildfire
When wildfires wipe out neighborhoods, sometimes the only option is to relocate rather than rebuild. In these situations, wildfire survivors can seek damages to cover moving costs, temporary lodgings while evacuated, the cost of food and other living expenses while evacuated, car rentals, and so forth.
The Loss of a Loved One Due to a Wildfire
If you’ve lost someone in your family because of a wildfire, you have our deepest condolences. When you feel like you’re ready to share your story, our team is ready to listen and provide any assistance we can. You may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit after a tragedy. Damages in these kinds of cases can cover funeral expenses, grief counseling, and the pain associated with the loss of a loved one.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Wildfire Damage?
This depends on the cause of the fire and if a specific person, company, or government entity is responsible. This requires careful investigation into what started the wildfire and any contributing factors related to human activity or negligence.
Utility Companies and Wildfires
At Danko Meredith, we focus on holding utility companies accountable when their actions cause or contribute to major wildfires. Our lawyers are ready to take on Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) when they decide to put profits over public safety.
Why utility companies? When we looked at the largest and most destructive wildfires in history, three of the fires we mentioned involved negligence by utility companies here in California. In addition, these three notable utility wildfires all occurred in the last decade.
As California continues to face an increased wildfire risk, our firm is here to hold utilities accountable when they act irresponsibly or fail to protect Californians from a potential wildfire.
Common Causes of Utility Wildfires
Here are a few examples of utility company negligence that can cause wildfires:
- Lack of Repairs and Equipment Maintenance: Utility companies may find it cheaper to let their equipment break rather than perform regular maintenance and repairs. We call this the “run to failure” mentality, which puts profits over public safety.
- Old Utility Equipment Left in Place: This is another aspect of the run-to-failure mentality. Old or decommissioned transmission towers, power lines, and other equipment may be left in place rather than dismantled. If a line gets accidentally re-energized, it could spark a wildfire.
- Trees Within the Strike Zones of Power Lines: When trees, tree limbs, or branches make contact with power lines, the results can be deadly. Utility companies are expected to keep trees clear to avoid touching power lines, but sometimes their teams or the contractors they hire are not thorough in keeping strike zones clear.
- Failure to Shut Off Power During Heavy Winds: Utility companies are allowed to shut off power during heavy winds to prevent potential line strikes. If a utility does not shut off power when there are warnings of strong gusts and sustained winds, its failure to act could result in a potential wildfire.
Recent Examples of Utility Wildfires in California
Here are some examples of utility-caused wildfires in California in the last decade or so. The team here at Danko Meredith has assisted survivors of these wildfires in seeking damages from utility companies.
The Eaton Fire (2025)
The Eaton Fire was caused by a zombie power line from a decades-old SoCal Edison transmission tower in the hills above the Eaton Canyon Wash. When the dead power line made contact with a live power line due to heavy winds, it caused sparks that ignited the nearby dry brush.
More than 14,000 acres burned, more than 9,400 structures were destroyed in the Eaton Fire, and at least 19 people lost their lives. The Eaton Fire caused significant devastation to the neighborhood of Altadena.
The Dixie Fire (2021)
The Dixie Fire was caused by a tree that was too close to distribution lines and a 12-kilovolt PG&E power distribution line in Feather River Canyon. The tree made contact with the lines, sparking the fire.
More than 963,000 acres burned, more than 1,300 structures were destroyed, and a firefighter lost their life trying to combat the blaze.
The Camp Fire (2018)
The Camp Fire was caused by a failed metal hook on a PG&E transmission tower. Rather than repair that hook, PG&E allowed it to fall into disrepair. When the hook failed, a transmission line struck the transmission tower, creating an electric arc and molten metal that ignited the brush below.
More than 150,000 acres burned, more than 18,800 structures were destroyed, and at least 85 people lost their lives. The Camp Fire devastated numerous communities, including Concow, Magalia, Butte Creek Canyon, and Paradise.
The Butte Fire (2015)
The Butte Fire was caused by a tree that was too close to a PG&E power line. PG&E initially claimed that the tree’s contact with the line was due to a contractor who did a poor job of clearing the strike zone. However, a judge found that PG&E had failed to train the contractor on how to clear away hazards properly.
More than 70,800 acres burned, more than 800 structures were destroyed, and at least two people lost their lives.
How Much Can Someone Win in a Wildfire Lawsuit?
That varies from person to person based on the damage, financial loss, and changes in quality of life caused by the wildfire. When we pursue cases against utility companies for causing wildfires, we try to make sure each person’s individual story is told. That allows our clients to receive the right amount of compensation based on what they’ve experienced and what was lost.
When you discuss what happened with our lawyers, we’ll note your medical bills, time away from work, and the cost of repairs or relocation after a fire. We’ll also consider future costs, like any medical treatments required for burn injuries or smoke inhalation, or mental health counseling to address the trauma of what happened.
At Danko Meredith, we’ll help you understand how much your wildfire claim is worth, and we’ll fight to secure fair compensation.
Should I Accept a Compensation Plan from a Utility Company?
No, or at least not immediately. Accepting compensation directly from a utility company after a wildfire could lead to a much lower payment than your wildfire damage claim is actually worth.
Some utility companies will set up their own compensation plans after a major wildfire. This sounds like these companies are accepting responsibility. However, many of these compensation plans provide a one-size-fits-all payment amount with no ability to negotiate and no timeline on when payments will be made.
We’ve previously discussed our issues with SCE’s Eaton Fire compensation plan. We encourage you to read that blog post if you’d like more information on why you should be skeptical about these kinds of arrangements.
How Danko Meredith Can Help You Seek Damages After a California Wildfire
Danko Meredith can help if you’ve lost your home or business because of a wildfire. We can also assist you if you’ve been seriously injured or lost a loved one in a fire. Our California wildfire lawyers can hold PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E accountable when their negligence affects your life.
The team at Danko Meredith has fought utilities before, and we’ve won on multiple occasions. Those companies know who we are, and they know we don’t back down.
We Have a History of Taking on Utility Companies
Over the years, Danko Meredith has built a reputation for taking on difficult cases. This includes suing utility companies for negligence. We helped numerous clients take on PG&E following the 2010 gas explosion in San Bruno. We’re also helping Hawaii residents take on Hawaiian Electric for their role in the 2023 Maui wildfires in Lahaina.
Our lawyers are currently assisting residents of Altadena and other nearby neighborhoods whose lives were changed by the Eaton Fire. This is what we do, and we’re proud to help people in their time of need.
We’ll Level the Playing Field Against Utility Companies
Utility companies like PG&E, SoCal Edison, and SDG&E have strong defense teams in place. These companies can make settlement negotiations and potential litigation extremely intimidating. Without a reliable lawyer advocating for you, you may receive a settlement that covers just a fraction of what your case is worth.
At Danko Meredith, we can level the playing field. Our team is trial-ready, which means we won’t settle for less than what your case is worth. If you browse through our record of successful cases, you’ll get a sense of how we approach cases with a fine attention to detail backed by evidence and expert witnesses.
You Don’t Pay Unless We Win
If you’ve lost a home, a business, or someone close to you, the last thing you want to see is another bill. We know that individuals and families are hurting after a disaster, which is why we work on a contingency fee basis.
In simple terms, our lawyers only get paid if we can win for you. At Danko Meredith, we don’t succeed unless our clients succeed. It’s our way of ensuring our whole focus is aligned with your best interests after a wildfire.
Contact Our California Wildfire Attorneys for a Free Case Review
If you need legal help after a major wildfire in California, the team at Danko Meredith is here to help. To request a free consultation and share your story with a dedicated team, contact our Bay Area law firm today. You can also call our Redwood City office at (650) 453-3600. We’re ready to listen and to help.