About September 2024 Wildfires in SoCal

• The Line Fire started on 09/05/24 in San Bernardino County. Just five days later, the fire has burned over 27,000 acres and is only 5% contained. This is currently the largest wildfire.
• The Roblar Fire started on 09/07/24 in San Diego County. Three days after it started, it has burned 1,000 acres and is 45% contained.
• The Bridge Fire started on 09/08/24 in Los Angeles County. As of two days, it has burned over 4,000 acres and is 0% contained.
• The Airport Fire started on 09/09/24 in Orange County. In just one day, the fire has burned over 9,000 acres and is 0% contained.
• The Apollo Fire started on 09/10/24. In less than a day, it has burned 300 acres and is 0% contained.

Of course, these fires are threatened lives and property in the communities directly affected by the flames. However, surrounding communities that were not immediately threatened by the flames were affected by the smoke, soot, and ash coming from these wildfires.

Property Damage Resulting from Ash and Soot

Ash, smoke, and soot from wildfires can travel hundreds or even thousands of miles, based on the altitude the smoke reaches, weather patterns during the fire, and, of course, the size/intensity of the fire. Exposure to smoke, ash, and soot can cause health issues like eye irritation, nose irritation, throat irritation, coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, and other respiratory issues, especially in those with asthma, allergies, and other respiratory conditions, for instance; toxins in soot and ash could also potentially expose people to carcinogens. Although it is important to understand the physical injuries that could result from exposure to smoke in surrounding communities, it is also important not to overlook the damage that could occur due to soot and ash from wildfires.

Soot and ash can result in the following damage:

• Discoloration on walls, floors, ceilings, and other surfaces
• Corrosion of metal surfaces (including electrical components)
• Damage to clothing, furniture, curtains, and other personal property
• Lasting odors in homes and vehicles that are difficult to remove and may require professional cleaning
• Damage to trees, plants, shrubs, and soil
• Damage to pipes and plumbing systems
• Damage to HVAC systems after clogging filters and other pumps
• Damage to water filters and water pumps in pools and hot tubs
• Damage to vehicle exterior (specifically the paint)

Can I File a Claim?

Yes – you could have the right to file a claim for damage resulting from soot and ash from wildfires. You could pursue a claim with your homeowner’s insurance company – as long as you have coverage. In general, homeowner’s insurance coverage includes dwelling coverage, coverage for detached structures, coverage for lost personal property, and coverage for relocation costs during repairs, for instance. If your personal property or other areas of your home were damaged by ash and soot, your insurance should cover it. Unfortunately, insurance companies intentionally make their terms unclear and even wrongfully deny claims.

If your insurance company is not answering calls, not responding to your emails, not investigating your claim well, giving you false information, giving you no information, or unfairly denying your claim, you could actually have grounds to file an insurance bad faith claim.

What if the fire was caused by a negligent party or entity? Although wildfires are usually caused by a combination of hot temperatures and dry brush conditions, wildfires can sometimes be sparked by faulty equipment from utility companies. In these cases, affected parties could have grounds to file lawsuits against these companies.

For more information about your right to file a lawsuit, please do not hesitate to reach out to the soot and ash property damage lawyers here at our law firm as soon as possible. Our team is ready to guide you every step of the way.