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 wildfire insurance if your existing coverage is not good enough for your needs.
The team at Danko Meredith would like to consider some basics about wildfire insurance in California. We’ll also explore the potential to file a lawsuit when a utility company like Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) causes a fire in your area, or that spreads to neighborhoods near you.
If you need to speak with wildfire lawyers about taking legal action, contact Danko Meredith today. You can also reach us by phone at (650) 453-3600.
Standard Homeowners and Renters Insurance Will Cover Wildfires
We’ve previously discussed homeowners insurance for wildfires as well as renters insurance for wildfires. Both of these types of insurance will cover damage from a wildfire, so you may not need a separate or supplemental policy for wildfires.
With that in mind, many people are concerned about the increased risk of wildfires throughout the state due to the unseasonably hot weather. These extremes in weather that have been worsened by climate change are a major reason why California has so many wildfires.
What Wildfire Losses Are Covered by Insurance
For people with homeowners insurance, their coverage will typically cover:
- Damage to the home and various structures or fixtures
- Damage to any personal belongings within the home
- Additional living expenses (ALE) while evacuated from the home
For people with renters insurance, their coverage will typically cover:
- Damage to any personal belongings within the home
- Additional living expenses while evacuated from the home
The amount you may receive from your insurance provider can vary based on your policy.
Insurance Options Could Be Limited in Areas with a High Wildfire Risk
Many people live in high-risk zones for wildfires in the state. This is part of the reality of where wildfires often happen in California. More and more housing has been built in the wildland-urban interface (WUI). The WUI is where forests and grasslands meet houses and businesses.
If someone is looking for additional wildfire insurance coverage in a high-risk area, private insurers may not offer a policy. In these situations, homeowners may have to rely on the California FAIR Plan.
According to a January 2026 report in the Sacramento Bee, roughly 668,600 Californians had FAIR Plan fire coverage at the end of 2025. For comparison’s sake, that number was just 271,300 in September 2022.
When to Consider Separate or Supplemental Wildfire Coverage
Here are a few situations in which you may want to consider separate or supplemental wildfire coverage.
- Your Standard Policy Excludes Wildfires: If your current insurance does not include coverage for wildfires, it’s worth looking into supplemental or separate wildfire coverage.
- Your Coverage Limits Are Too Low: The cost of repairing wildfire damage or rebuilding a home can be very high. You should consider wildfire coverage if you want to ensure you can cover repair and rebuilding costs.
- You Own High-Value or Unique Property: If you have a luxury home or any sort of unique property, a separate or specialized wildfire policy can help fill any gaps in your coverage.
- You Own Seasonal or Vacant Property: If you have a vacation home or a home that’s often vacant, this property may not be covered by your homeowners insurance. A separate wildfire policy may be prudent.
If you have further questions about whether to get wildfire insurance and if it makes sense for your needs, discuss these matters with an insurance broker.
Can I Still Sue for Fire Damage Even If I Have Wildfire Insurance?
Yes. Even if you have homeowners insurance and supplemental wildfire coverage, you may be able to file a lawsuit against a liable party for starting a wildfire. The compensation received from your lawsuit would cover any additional damages you experienced as well as long-term losses associated with the wildfire.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Wildfire Lawsuit?
Corporations, government entities, and contractors can be held liable for causing wildfires. In these situations, these powerful entities can be sued for damages.
Over the years, utility companies have been held liable in wildfire lawsuits. This includes companies like PG&E, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), and Southern California Edison (SCE). In fact, Danko Meredith has looked at California wildfires caused by PG&E on our blog. We encourage you to read that past post so you can get a better understanding of why these kinds of fires occur.
Potential Compensation in a Wildfire Lawsuit
Compensation in a wildfire lawsuit can help cover:
- Medical Bills: This includes medical bills if you suffered a serious burn injury, a respiratory condition caused by smoke inhalation, or any other injury or illness. The compensation covers past treatment and costs for ongoing or future treatments.
- Damage to Your Dwelling: This includes repairs to your property as well as the cost of rebuilding your home.
- Damage to Other Property in a Fire: This includes the cost of any damaged furniture, clothing, valuables, and decor. You could also receive compensation for damage to your garden and landscaping in certain situations.
- Mental Health Counseling: This includes meeting with a therapist for fire-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or anxiety.
- Lost Income: This includes lost wages while you were evacuated, loss of income because a business had to be closed down, and leave from work while recuperating from fire-related injuries.
- Lost Future Earning Potential: This includes changes in your career path and long-term earnings if you suffered catastrophic injuries in a wildfire that result in long-term or permanent disability.
- Additional Living Expenses (ALE): This includes any costs associated with temporary housing and meals while evacuated from your home. This may also include the cost of relocation after a wildfire.
- The Loss of a Loved One: This includes funeral expenses, grief counseling, and the pain associated with the loss of your loved one’s companionship. This compensation is often sought through a wrongful death lawsuit.
What Causes Utility Wildfires?
While utility wildfires have numerous potential causes, there are a few common reasons why these types of fires happen.
Allowing Equipment to Fall Into Disrepair
Many utility companies find that they can save money by allowing their equipment to degrade and break rather than performing repairs. At Danko Meredith, we call this the “run to failure” mentality. It’s an example of a company putting profits over the safety of working Californians.
Trees and Tree Limbs Striking Power Lines
Utility companies need to keep their power lines clear from trees and tree limbs. If a tree makes contact with a power line in these strike zones, it can cause sparks that could ignite the nearby vegetation.
Failure to Turn Off Power During Red Flag Warnings
Laws allow utility companies to shut off power during red flag warnings. This includes heavy winds and extremely dry conditions. When utility companies fail to turn off power, a swaying live power line could make contact with a tree, another line, or a transmission tower.
Recent Notable Utility Fires in California
These are four notable utility wildfires that have occurred over the last decade or so. In each of these cases, the lawyers at Danko Meredith have worked or are currently working with wildfire survivors to hold utility companies accountable.
The Eaton Fire (2025)
The Eaton Fire is one of the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in California history. While the cause remains under investigation, it was likely caused by a live power line making contact with a dead power line attached to a decommissioned transmission tower.
The Eaton Fire burned more than 14,000 acres and affected numerous foothill communities, most notably Altadena. The fire destroyed more than 9,400 structures and caused at least 19 deaths.
The Dixie Fire (2021)
The Dixie Fire is the largest single-source wildfire in California history. It was caused by a tree that made contact with a 12,000-volt PG&E power line.
The Dixie Fire burned more than 963,000 acres across Butte County, Lassen County, Plumas County, Shasta County, and Tehama County. More than 1,300 structures were destroyed, and one firefighter died fighting the blaze.
The Camp Fire (2018)
The Camp Fire is the deadliest wildfire in California history. It was caused by the failure of a metal hook attached to a PG&E transmission tower. When the hook failed, a power line hit the transmission tower and ignited the dry vegetation in the area.
The Camp Fire burned more than 153,300 acres in Butte County, devastating the town of Paradise as well as nearby communities like Magalia, Concow, and Butte Creek Canyon. The fire destroyed over 18,800 structures and caused 85 deaths.
The Butte Fire (2015)
The Butte Fire was caused by a tree that made contact with a PG&E power line. The utility tried to blame it on an independent tree-trimming contractor they hired. Our law firm proved that PG&E failed to train the company on how to properly clear branches and trees from strike zones.
The Butte Fire burned more than 70,800 acres in Calaveras and Amador counties. The fire destroyed more than 800 structures and caused two deaths.
Why You Need Danko Meredith After a California Wildfire
If you’re set on taking legal action against PG&E, SDG&E, or SoCal Edison, you need a law firm to help level the playing field against their legal teams and resources. The attorneys at Danko Meredith are here to help Californians just like you.
Our team of California utility wildfire lawyers has a track record of taking on powerful interests and securing compensation. We fight for homeowners, renters, and families whose lives have been changed when companies put profits over public safety.
We Have a Record of Taking on Utility Companies
Over the years, Danko Meredith has held numerous utility companies accountable for their actions. In addition to our work on the Eaton Fire, the Dixie Fire, and the Camp Fire, our team has fought to hold Hawaiian Electric accountable for its role in the 2023 Maui wildfires in Lahaina. We also secured compensation for families that were affected by the 2010 PG&E pipeline explosion in San Bruno.
We Understand How to Approach Utility Fire Cases
Utility companies often have massive and well-funded legal teams in place. Danko Meredith will not be intimidated. We’re used to being outnumbered in these situations, but we refuse to be outlawyered. Our attorneys can consult expert witnesses who help us back up all claims with evidence and science. We’ll make sure your story is heard, and that any compensation we seek fully accounts for your economic and non-economic losses.
Our Clients Pay Nothing Unless We Win for Them
If you’ve lost your home, your livelihood, or a loved one in a fire, you’re dealing with such tremendous losses. You don’t need to see another bill. We offer free and confidential consultations so you can speak with an attorney with no financial obligation. We also work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no upfront legal fees. Our firm only gets paid if we win you a settlement or damages.
Speak with the Wildfire Attorneys at Danko Meredith Today
Even if you have wildfire insurance, it’s worth speaking with Danko Meredith to find out if you can sue for damages. We can answer your questions and start talking about the immediate steps we can take to start seeking compensation. To request a free case evaluation, contact our law office today. You can also reach our law office in Redwood City by phone at (650) 453-3600.