After countless complaints from fire survivors whose homes are left standing but covered in potentially toxic soot, the California Department of Insurance has launched a first-of-its-kind task force aimed at creating a statewide smoke damage standard.
This could pave the way for a nationwide framework addressing how insurance companies handle smoke damage claims.
The task force will focus on developing clear guidelines on how insurers should cover smoke damage and how much cleanup they are required to provide for affected homes.
The announcement on July 1 revealed the task force members, including high-profile consumer advocate Amy Bach, Deputy Insurance Commissioner Tony Cignarale, and experts in health, smoke remediation, and insurance.
A Problem That Needs Resolution
One of the most frustrating aspects for homeowners is the lack of federal or state standards on smoke damage.
Insurance companies often refuse to cover cleanup, requiring homeowners to bear the brunt of expensive remediation and testing.
Without visible physical damage, many insurers argue that smoke damage is not covered, even though health experts warn of the invisible, toxic chemicals and heavy metals left behind by smoke that can pose health risks and require costly cleanup efforts.
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara shared his concerns with CBS News California, stating, “There are no set standards for how you mitigate your home against wildfire smoke. And who benefits here? The insurance company.”
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A Glimmer of Hope
This task force aims to change the narrative. By creating clear standards, it hopes to ensure that homeowners no longer face the financial burden of cleaning up smoke damage on their own.
The task force’s lineup is a diverse mix of professionals, including public health officials, insurance advocates, and smoke remediation specialists, who will all work toward developing these much-needed guidelines.
Task Force Members Include:
- Amy Bach, Insurance Consumer Advocate
- Tony Cignarale, Deputy Insurance Commissioner
- Dr. Rita Nguyen, Assistant State Public Health Officer
- Dr. Nichole Quick, Los Angeles County Chief Medical Advisor
- Chief Frank Bigelow, Cal Fire’s Deputy Director for Community Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation
- Brad Kovar, CEO of Safeguard EnviroGroup
- Patrick Moffett, President of Blue Sky Environmental Consulting
- Kristofer Griffith, VP of Operations at Anderson Group International
- Hamid Arabzadeh, Principal at HRA Environmental Consultants
- Michelle Rosales, Director at Forensic Analytical Consulting Services
- Allison Adey, Legislative Advocate, Personal Insurance Federation of California
- Karen Collins, VP of Property and Environmental at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association
This initiative marks a significant step toward ensuring homeowners are not left in the dark or burdened by unexpected costs after surviving a fire.
We will continue to follow the task force’s progress as part of our ongoing investigation into California’s insurance issues.
What do you think of the new initiative to regulate smoke damage insurance claims? Will this solve the problem, or is more needed? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
For more updates on California’s insurance crisis and other important issues, visit ridgecrestpact.org.
