More than a year after the Eaton Fire devastated Altadena and surrounding communities, Los Angeles County investigators have reached a significant conclusion: Southern California Edison (SCE) equipment caused the fire. On August 4, 2026, the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Arson and Fire Investigation Unit, working with Cal Fire, released its final origin-and-cause report. After...
Wildfire
Wildfire survivors from the Eaton Fire and other recent California wildfires rallied this week to send Governor Newsom a direct message: any changes to utility wildfire liability need to happen in public, through the normal legislative process, not negotiated behind closed doors in the final weeks of the legislative session. The survivors’ concern is not...
If you live in California, you may want to consider wildfire insurance if your current insurance excludes wildfire damage, your existing coverage for fires is too low, you have high-value property, or you own vacation/seasonal property. It’s worth noting that homeowners and renters insurance usually include wildfire damage, so you may only need to get...
Yes, renters insurance can cover damage to your personal belongings in a wildfire as well as living expenses while you are evacuated from your home. While renters insurance can be helpful after a wildfire, there are many limits on what can be covered, and you may find that your expenses are not fully addressed by...
Yes, homeowners insurance can cover various kinds of damage in a wildfire, including damage to your home and other structures on your property, damage to your personal belongings, and additional living expenses (ALE) while you’ve been evacuated or displaced. However, there may be limits on how much you receive, which means not all property damage...
If you’ve lost your home, business, ability to earn a living, or a loved one in a wildfire, take these steps to start recovering compensation: Document the damage to your property and belongings File an insurance claim right away Keep track of any ongoing expenses from the fire Apply for state or federal disaster aid...
California has so many wildfires partly because the fire season has gotten longer. This is due to extreme wet and dry weather, which has been worsened by climate change. When wildfires start, they can be fueled by strong regional winds, like the Diablo winds in Northern California and the Santa Ana winds in Southern California....
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) is responsible for several notable California wildfires, including: The Dixie Fire (2021) The Zogg Fire (2020) The Kincade Fire (2019) The Camp Fire (2018) The Butte Fire (2015) The Trauner Fire (1994) Many of these fires were caused by trees too close to active power lines or equipment in disrepair....