losses News

New Wildfires Erupt in California, Forcing Thousands to Evacuate

Two new wildfires that erupted in Southern California are spreading quickly over dry hillsides and forcing evacuations, stoking new fears in a region that’s been devastated by recent deadly blazes. The Hughes Fire, which began Wednesday and grew within hours …

Ash Left Behind by LA Wildfires Might Be Toxic, Experts Warn

Toni Boucher threw up the first time she saw the charred remains of her home and neighborhood after this month’s deadly Los Angeles-area wildfires. Now she wonders if it’s worth it to go back to sift through the ashes and …

Wildfire-Risk Models Are Struggling to Predict LA-Style Fires

Among natural disasters, wildfires are the great unknown. Even the most-sophisticated scientific models fail to capture all the risk factors or properly account for the increasing impact of climate change. It’s a major problem for homeowners, insurers and investors, as …

Hawaii Fireworks Injuries Comparable to Those Seen on Battlefield, Doctor Says

Some wounds suffered by six Hawaii residents flown to Arizona for medical treatment after a deadly illegal fireworks explosion on New Year’s are comparable to battlefield injuries, the doctor overseeing their care said. Dr. Kevin Foster, the director of the …

Los Angeles Pushes to Rebuild Homes Fast, Despite Wildfire Danger

California politicians are rushing to make it easier for residents to rebuild their homes incinerated in the Los Angeles firestorms. That means waiving green construction mandates designed to combat climate change — which is driving such conflagrations by making conditions …

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 …

Fire-Ravaged LA to See Respite But Danger ‘Not Yet Passed’

The dry, dangerous winds that have kept fire-scarred Los Angeles on edge for days are finally forecast to end — but a lack of rain and another round of winds forecast next week has officials worried. “Things are starting to …

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 …

Edison Utility Sued Over Role of Equipment in Los Angeles Fire

Edison International Inc.’s southern California utility was hit with a lawsuit blaming the energy provider’s equipment for igniting one of the wildfires still raging in the second-largest US metropolis. The lawsuit is on behalf of a group of homeowners, renters, …