California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced earlier this week that insurance claims resulting from the devastating 2017 wildfires have reached nearly $12 billion, representing the costliest fires in the history of the state.  California insurers have received around 45,000 claims totaling $11.8 billion in losses of homes, watercraft, automobiles, businesses, farm vehicles and other equipment.  

The severity of the 2017 wildfires has raised concerns that insurance companies will expand the practice of canceling and non-renewing policies in areas they consider high risk for wildfire.  With climate change exacerbating fire conditions and California still experiencing high levels of tree mortality and other factors that contribute to fire risk, the Legislature has already offered several proposals to restrict insurers from canceling homeowners’ policies in the wake of a natural disaster or within a fire risk area without meeting certain conditions.

If you are having issues with insurance claims due to the fires or another fire-related issue such as risk, contact the Department of Insurance, 800-927-4357 or online at www.insurance.ca.gov for assistance.