The California Department of Insurance has urged residents who have been ordered to evacuate because of wildfires to contact their insurance companies about reimbursement for evacuation and relocation costs.
A significant number of wildfires have been raging in the state, with the Gifford fire alone having scorched more than 118,000 acres of land since igniting on August 1, while the Canyon fire, which started on August 7, has burnt over 5,300 acres of land, according to California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).
The state’s Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has advised all of those forced to relocate due to the fires to keep receipts and documentation to support claims for benefits.
Newsweek has contacted the California Department of Insurance outside of regular working hours via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Large-scale evacuations from the recent Southern California wildfires have displaced tens of thousands of residents and increased pressure on an already strained insurance market, prompting regulators to emphasize that cost should not deter people from leaving dangerous areas and seeking assistance.
Lara warned those in affected areas to listen to firefighters when told to evacuate, saying that cost should not be an “obstacle” preventing Americans from leaving the region to get to safety.
The commissioner has long-been a proponent of providing insurance benefits to those affected by evacuation – in 2020, Lara sponsored Senate Bill 872, which required insurers to provide at least two weeks of benefits to evacuees among other measures.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
What To Know
The Department of Insurance said displaced homeowners and renters should contact their insurance agents or companies to determine eligibility for Additional Living Expenses (ALE) coverage, which typically covered costs for food, housing, furniture rental, relocation, storage and additional transportation.
The department advised evacuees to keep all receipts, document the date and time of calls with insurer representatives and to verify adjusters’ licenses by checking online with the department’s website.
Evacuees should also check with their insurance provider or agent as soon as possible to confirm coverage, limits, and any documentation requirements, the department said.
The department also has a list of tips for wildfire claimants that those affected can refer to for additional support.
The Canyon Fire began at 1:25 p.m. on Thursday near Highway 126 and Castaic, and by the evening, the fire had grown to 4,856 acres with zero containment.
Meanwhile, the Gifford Fire started on August 1 at 3.44 p.m. and as of Monday morning, multiple evacuation orders were in place, including for San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbara County with various roads closed.
What People Are Saying
Ricardo Lara, California’s Insurance Commissioner, said: “When our firefighters say it’s time to evacuate, you need to go. Cost should not be an obstacle. I want evacuees to know that additional living expense coverage can help alleviate the stress and financial burden of mandatory evacuations. Evacuated residents should keep their receipts and contact their insurance agent to understand their coverage and any additional resources available during this time.”
What Happens Next
Evacuees were instructed to contact their insurers and the California Department of Insurance consumer phone number at 1-800-927-4357 for help with claims and coverage questions.
Meanwhile, the firefighters continue to smother the spreading wildfires, with the Canyon fire now at 91 percent containment and the Gifford fire at 33 percent containment, according to CAL FIRE data on Monday morning.
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