California Wildfire News

California Storm Raises Mudslide Risk, Closes Interstate

Southern California will clock a few more tense hours as showers continue to soak the burn-scarred landscape around Los Angeles. While the rains are helping fight wildfires that have killed at least 28 and destroyed more than 16,000 structures, they’re …

A Los Angeles Actuary on Lessons From the Palisades Fire

I watched as the skies over my home in Los Angeles turned an apocalyptic orange on January 7, 2025, as wildfires raged across the state. Among the most devastating, the Palisades Fire consumed thousands of acres, leaving a wake of …

California Expands Moratorium on Homeowners Insurance Cancellations, Non-Renewals

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara expanded emergency insurance protections for Southern California homeowners, adding new ZIP Codes to those already under a mandatory one-year moratorium on insurance non-renewals and cancellations. The expanded order shields those within the perimeters or adjoining …

Los Angeles Is on Edge as Strong Winds Keep Fire Danger Elevated

Los Angeles is bracing for critical wildfire conditions again as dry winds scour Southern California, creating the risk of more blazes in the wake of a disaster that has killed at least 24 people, driven thousands from their homes and …

Los Angeles Faces Another Day of Extreme Fire Risk as Winds Rise

Hot, dry winds are pummeling Los Angeles and surrounding areas of Southern California, raising wildfire risks through at least Wednesday as the region reels from blazes that have killed at least 24 people and burned neighborhoods to the ground. Tropical-storm-strength …

Catastrophe Bond Funds Say They’ll Dodge Losses as LA Fires Rage

The wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles are unlikely to trigger significant losses for catastrophe bonds designed to capture such risks. Roughly 12% of the $50 billion cat-bond market is currently exposed to wildfire risk, according to Florian Steiger, chief executive …

Insured Losses From Los Angeles Wildfires Rising: $8B to $20B

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new AccuWeather total loss estimates. With aerial firefighting returning as strong Southern California winds died down for a bit, damage assessments from a handful of destructive Los Angeles area blazes are sure …

Los Angeles Fires Become Existential Test for California’s Stopgap Insurer

The conflagrations tearing across Los Angeles are on track to be among the most expensive wildfire disasters in U.S. history, draining insurance coffers and threatening California’s massive state-sponsored insurance program. Losses from the fires “could push insurance markets over the …

Thousands Flee From Uncontrolled Wildfires Burning Near Los Angeles

Millions of people in California face at least two more days of dry, hot winds that have fanned fires across Los Angeles County and sent residents fleeing for their lives. Hurricane-force wind gusts of as much as 86 miles (138 …

Mercury Insurance to Return to Fire-Ravaged Paradise, California

Mercury Insurance announced this week that the company will begin writing new homeowners insurance policies in the town of Paradise, California. Mercury says it is the first major insurance company to begin offering policies to Paradise homeowners since the town …