Commissioner Lara announces action to protect insurance coverage for Southern California wildfire survivors

News: 2024 Press Release

LOS ANGELES — Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced an impending action to protect communities affected by the Line Fire in San Bernardino County, the Bridge Fire in Los Angeles County and the Airport Fire in Orange and Riverside counties, following Governor Newsom’s emergency declarations. Under state law, once the fires’ perimeter are determined Commissioner Lara will issue a Bulletin identifying areas in the immediate vicinity of the fires that will be protected by a one-year protection from homeowners’ insurance non-renewal or cancellation due to wildfire risk. Commissioner Lara has protected insurance for approximately 4 million California households since 2019.

“Wildfires are devastating both financially and emotionally, even if you don’t suffer property damage,” said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, who is implementing a Sustainable Insurance Strategy to address California’s insurance crisis. “Keeping people covered in the aftermath of a wildfire emergency is essential as our long-term reforms take effect in the coming months. Insurance benefits can help people recover quickly and cover some of the additional costs if you have to evacuate from your home. Once these fires are brought under control, we will be on the ground assisting survivors in person, enforcing California’s strong consumer protection laws as people recover.”

Commissioner Lara reminds residents in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange and Riverside counties who have been ordered to evacuate due to the wildfires that their homeowners or renters insurance may help with evacuation and relocation costs under Additional Living Expenses coverage, known as ALE. ALE coverage typically includes food and housing costs, furniture rental, relocation and storage, and extra transportation expenses, among other costs.

If you have any questions or need assistance, the California Department of Insurance is here to help. Please call: 1-800-927-4357 or visit www.insurance.ca.gov. 

Many homeowners are unaware that they may have coverage under their homeowners and renters insurance policies to help them with evacuation and recovery expenses.

In 2020, Commissioner Lara sponsored a new law — SB 872 authored by Senator Bill Dodd — that requires insurance companies pay at least two weeks of ALE benefits to evacuees and provide an advance payment for no less than four months of ALE without an itemized inventory form, among other consumer protections. This important consumer protection law removes barriers for disaster survivors to get critical insurance benefits and streamlines wildfire recovery processes for homeowners who suffer from a loss.

Here are some additional tips for consumers:

• Keep all receipts during your evacuation.
• Policy provisions, including deductibles, vary by company, and residents should check with their insurance company or agent as soon as possible to confirm coverage, limits, and any other limitations and documentation requirements. Most renter’s policies also typically include ALE coverage.
• Document the date, time and names of any insurance company employees you speak to regarding your coverage.
• Consumers should make sure any insurance agent or public adjuster offering their services has a valid license by checking online with the Department of Insurance.
• Download the Department’s Top 10 Tips for Wildfire Claimants (also available in Spanish), which includes information about claiming ALE benefits.
• Public adjusters cannot solicit business for seven calendar days after the disaster.
• Don't forget copies of insurance policies, important papers, and a photo or video inventory of your possessions. An inventory can be completed quickly and easily on your smart phone and safely stored in the Cloud.

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Media Notes: 

• Additional resources and information for consumers on wildfires are available from the California Department of Insurance. Download a free home inventory guide from the department website, or receive a hardcopy by calling the California Department of Insurance Consumer Hotline at 800-927-4357.
• If you have any questions or need assistance, the California Department of Insurance is here to help. Please call: 1-800-927-4357 or visit www.insurance.ca.gov.
• For the latest updates and information on the Bridge, Airport and Line fires please visit:

https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/caanf-bridge-fire

https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cacnf-airport-fire

https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cabdf-line-fire

• Additional contact information:

  • California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES): (916) 657-9494 or www.caloes.ca.gov
  • California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE): www.fire.ca.gov
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or www.fema.gov
  • Contractors State License Board: 1-800-321-CSLB (2752) or www.cslb.ca.gov
  • National Insurance Crime Bureau 1-888-815-9064 or www.nicb.org