Some California homeowners in fire-prone areas face steep insurance increase
Some California homeowners in fire-prone areas face steep insurance increase

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Across the state, homeowners are preparing for what could be another long wildfire season. Last year broke records for fires in the state, with more than four million acres burned, and this year has already seen hundreds more fires than the…
Court: California can expand insurance for wildfire areas
Court: California can expand insurance for wildfire areas

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. California’s insurance commissioner can order the “insurer of last resort” to offer more options for homeowners who can’t buy traditional coverage because they live in areas threatened by wildfires, a judge ruled. Massive wildfires in recent years have destroyed thousands of homes across…
California Homeowners Living in Wildfire-Prone Areas May No Longer Have Insurance
California Homeowners Living in Wildfire-Prone Areas May No Longer Have Insurance

At least 2.1 million Californians are at risk of losing insurance coverage on homes in wildfire-prone areas. California’s moratorium on insurance companies dropping coverage for homeowners in wildfire-prone areas is planned to end in November. As wildfires raged along the state last year, California residents living in…
After years of deadly fires, PG&E again vows to do better
After years of deadly fires, PG&E again vows to do better

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE The Associated Press SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) — The nation’s largest utility has long vowed to change its reckless ways, but year after year there’s more death and destruction from Northern California wildfires sparked by Pacific Gas & Electric’s equipment. CEO Patricia…
Here’s how California homeowners are trying to save their fire insurance
Here’s how California homeowners are trying to save their fire insurance

With insurers canceling coverage and raising rates, should fire-proofing homes count? Susan Hassett did everything she could to convince the insurance companies her Yolo County ranch could survive a wildfire. After Allstate told the retired firefighter in 2017 that the devastating blazes across the state…
East Bay Resident Makes Fire Prevention a Passion
East Bay Resident Makes Fire Prevention a Passion

OAKLAND (KPIX) — An Bay Area resident who has been a fire prevention activist since she lost her home in the Oakland Hills firestorm 30 years ago, Sue Piper is passionate about disaster preparedness. The Gateway Preparedness Exhibit Center educates people on how to prepare for wildfires…
Catch UP on Insurance Bad Faith with Bill Shernoff
Catch UP on Insurance Bad Faith with Bill Shernoff

California attorney Bill Shernoff is often described as the “father” of insurance bad faith law.  Amy Bach sits down with insurance expert Bill Shernoff of the law firm Shernoff, Bidart, Echeverria to talk about the status of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing…
Proposed insurance rules would give property owners access to wildfire risk score
Proposed insurance rules would give property owners access to wildfire risk score

Under new rules proposed by California’s insurance commissioner, home and business owners will have open access to their wildfire risk scores that companies use to determine rates and renew coverage. Commissioner Ricardo Lara said he has heard the frustration and confusion from residents over how…
Commissioner Lara proposes new transparency rules to help consumers better prepare for wildfires
Commissioner Lara proposes new transparency rules to help consumers better prepare for wildfires

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – After hearing from many Californians about their frustration and confusion over how insurance companies rate properties for wildfire risk, on Tuesday State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara proposed new rules to give homeowners and businesses open access to their properties’ wildfire risk…
First theft claim in 20 years leads to policy cancellation in what consumer groups call ‘use and lose’
First theft claim in 20 years leads to policy cancellation in what consumer groups call ‘use and lose’

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — An untold number of Californians lost their fire insurance due to increased wild fire risk in recent years. Now there’s yet another reason to lose your insurance, and it has nothing to do with climate change. Layla Dreyer loves to…
“Hardening” Homes Against Wildfires In California Has Been An Uphill Battle
“Hardening” Homes Against Wildfires In California Has Been An Uphill Battle

Hardening your home against wildfires is a necessity if you live in a state like California. Over the past four years, dark clouds of ash and smoke from hundreds of out-of-control blazes have blanketed the Golden State. “Every year we make records in terms of…
Few California court wins for pandemic business-interruption claims
Few California court wins for pandemic business-interruption claims

As North Coast businesses grapple with insurance claims from the 2020 wildfires on top of ongoing issues with coverage for the coronavirus lockdowns of a number of economic activities, a major advocate for policyholders said those types of losses differ but they’re connected by promises…
Speakers describe farm disaster recovery strategies
Speakers describe farm disaster recovery strategies

Business owners hit by wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic have a range of financial options to explore, along with worries over insurance claims. These were covered in detail in a virtual workshop held last week by the Napa County Farm Bureau in cooperation with California…
Smoke, Maggots, and Mold: Fire Survivors Fight Insurance Company’s Denials
Smoke, Maggots, and Mold: Fire Survivors Fight Insurance Company’s Denials

In the Santa Cruz mountains, the charred scars of the CZU fire stretch in every direction. But every once in a while, the scorched landscape yields to a house that survived. Theresa Brees’ home is one of the lucky ones. “Our house is basically an…
Who Is The California Earthquake Authority?
Who Is The California Earthquake Authority?

You might call the California Earthquake Authority a financial shock absorber for the Golden State, home to nearly 40 million people and to two-thirds of the country’s earthquake risk. Created in 1996, the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) is the largest residential earthquake insurer in the…
California Department of Insurance Commissioner Protects More Than 2 Million Policyholders Affected by Wildfires from Policy Non-Renewal for One Year
California Department of Insurance Commissioner Protects More Than 2 Million Policyholders Affected by Wildfires from Policy Non-Renewal for One Year

November 5, 2020 – LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a mandatory one-year moratorium on insurance companies non-renewing or cancelling residential property insurance policies—helping 2.1 million policyholders, or 18 percent of California’s residential insurance market, affected to date by the record 2020…
State insurance commissioner blocks home insurers from dropping policies near Glass, LNU Lightning fires
State insurance commissioner blocks home insurers from dropping policies near Glass, LNU Lightning fires

The California insurance commissioner on Thursday issued an order prohibiting insurance companies from canceling property insurance policies for one year for people who live in or around the areas burned by the recent Glass and LNU Lightning Complex fires. Ricardo Lara’s action will preserve property…
California protects homeowners from having fire insurance dropped — again
California protects homeowners from having fire insurance dropped — again

As this year’s historic wildfire season winds down, Californians living in fire-prone territory got temporary relief from another threat: they can’t lose their homeowners’ insurance policies for another year. Premiums and nonrenewal rates have skyrocketed in California’s fire-prone regions since 2015 as companies are loath…