Losses from wildfires across the United States over the past decade have added up to $5.1 billion.1 In addition to damage typically expected from fires (smoke, soot, ash, water from fire-fighting hoses and extinguisher chemicals), some homeowners may face the additional risk of damage caused by suppression efforts, specifically aviation-based firefighting.… Continue Reading
A recent decision by the Supreme Court of Wisconsin1 might predict how other courts would analyze coverage under commercial general liability insurance policies for wildfires. In May 2013, a fire broke out on forest land owned by Lyme St. Croix Forest Company. The fire burned nearly 7,500 acres over the course of three days and … Continue Reading
Last week, Richard Tutwiler of Tutwiler and Associates, Matthew Garnett of Vernis and Bowling, Heather Filegar of Southern Healthy Homes, and I presented at the 2018 Windstorm Insurance Conference at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel. Rick Tutwiler who will be the President of the Windstorm Insurance Network in 2020, wanted to expand the course offering … Continue Reading
Last month, the California Department of Insurance issued a notice to insurance companies, insurance agents, and public adjusters regarding the recent wildfires in the state. Although the notice is directed to insurance companies, agents, and adjusters, it provides useful information for policyholders affected by the wildfires. According to the Department of Insurance press release discussing … Continue Reading
The recent fires in Napa Valley and Sonoma, California present numerous issues for homeowners and business owners alike when it comes to navigating insurance claims. Questions arise as to what coverages are provided under a given insurance policy, how determinations on what is owed are made, what are the options on rebuilding, loss of income … Continue Reading
One of the most terrifying and devastating perils insured against is fire. A wildfire outbreak is one news alert that can have a massive impact on our property and lives. A new research study has exposed some of the data on the insurance claim side of this catastrophe.… Continue Reading
My colleague Denise Sze recently blogged about the Butte and Valley wildfires. More than 5,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. Indeed, many residents face a painful road to recovery. Last week, to increase the speed of the recovery process for wildfire victims, California Insurance Commissioner Jones obtained agreements from several insurance companies to adopt various … Continue Reading
As promised yesterday in Wildfire and Smoke Claims – A Case Burning With Issues That Public Adjusters Should Study, today’s post will be the first study from the recent decision in Falcon v. State Farm Lloyds.1 The initial question is how long has the expert has been doing what he is asked to do. The … Continue Reading
Wildfire cases are unique and have many evidentiary issues. Public adjusters have been making claims for damage by fire, heat, and especially smoke. State Farm and its able trial counsel successfully appear to be fighting back in Falcon v State Farm Lloyds.1… Continue Reading
California has kept rainfall records since the start of the Gold Rush in the mid-1800s. 2013 ended up being the driest year on record in California history.1 That is pretty incredible when you think about it. The state is finally getting some much needed rain this weekend as a big storm rolls by.… Continue Reading
The wildfire burning in and around Yosemite National Park is very much in the news. Not anywhere close to being contained, the so-called Rim Fire has burned nearly 234 square miles (some news outlets are equating the burn area with the size of the city of Chicago) and continues to spread and threaten many homes.… Continue Reading
The Yarnell Hill wildfire currently burning in an area 85 miles north of Phoenix continues to rage on with minimal containment. So far, it has burned over 8,000 acres and has destroyed about 50 homes and is threatening about 250 others.… Continue Reading
Since Thursday, a wildfire in Camarillo (situated in Ventura County on the outskirts of Los Angeles) has burned at least 10,000 acres and is just 10% contained according to fire officials. The so-called Springs Fire has prompted numerous evacuations and is threatening 4,000 homes and 300 commercial properties.… Continue Reading
On Sunday, Denver Post business section writer, Steve Raabe, published a good article discussing the obstacles homeowners face when they attempt to use their insurance coverage proceeds to rebuild their home.… Continue Reading
Last week, Chip Merlin commented on the emotional impact of catastrophes, especially when insurers fail to deliver benefits or treat their policyholders unfairly. Indeed, policyholders facing great losses turn to their insurers in their greatest time of need and expect that the insurers deliver. Unfortunately, as we have seen before, insurers do not always come … Continue Reading
This year’s wildfire activity in the western part of the country, including the states along the Pacific Coast, has been very active to say the least, and it’s still early in the wildfire season. The Taylor Bridge Fire, near Cle Elum Washington (75 miles southeast of Seattle), has burned 60 homes and over 26,000 acres. … Continue Reading
As of Friday, the National Interagency Fire Center reported that 19 wildfires have burned nearly 500,000 acres in states like Colorado, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. Five additional large fires were reported in the states of Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona and Idaho.… Continue Reading
I’d like to take this opportunity to tell you about a great symposium being put on by students at Texas Weslayan School of Law in Fort Worth, Texas.… Continue Reading
As California enters the New Year, both Northern and Southern California have experienced problems with wildfires. Of the six fires in the Northern California Region which occurred over the last month, one still remains active and is only 40% contained in Calaveras County.… Continue Reading
Last week, many families in the Reno, Nevada, area were unable to celebrate Thanksgiving in their homes due to the epic wildfire which raged through Caughlin Ranch the week prior. News reports stated that the fire was the “perfect storm” of conditions where wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour resulted in flames up … Continue Reading
The recent wild fires in Reno, Nevada, caused tragic losses of many homes and extensive loss to business property and business income. Commercial property policies with business interruption coverage vary widely with regard to coverage of business income loss due to order of civil authorities.… Continue Reading
Wildfire insurance claims are raging in Texas. The Texas Association of Public Insurance Adjusters will talk about wildfire claims at its Fall Conference in Dallas on November 16 and 17. The speaker presenting this topic promises that the discussion will be practical, guaranteed not to put you to sleep, and worth hundreds of thousands of … Continue Reading
Television Station KXAN of Austin, Texas, reported recently that the Texas Forest Service will be creating a system, the Texas Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal, to pinpoint wildfire damage anywhere in Texas. The Texas Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal is an online mapping tool that the Texas Forest Service will used to send risk information and create … Continue Reading
Many of you are aware of the devastating fires that severely damaged central Texas during the past few months. In Bastrop County alone, the fires consumed 34,000 acres and 1,600 homes, according to an investigation released by the Texas Forest Service. If you are one of the thousands who has suffered fire damage, you may … Continue Reading
