California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is urging insurance companies to provide full payouts for personal property lost in last month’s devastating wildfires without requiring homeowners to complete detailed inventories.
Lara’s office has asked insurers to comply and report back by Feb. 28 on whether they are honoring the request.
“It is unreasonable to ask wildfire survivors to recall and list every item they lost before receiving their full benefits,” Lara stated on Thursday. “Their priority should be rebuilding their lives, not compiling exhaustive inventories.”
Some residents affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires have already received full payments, while others are still waiting. Many homeowners have found it difficult to meet insurers’ documentation requirements while also handling temporary housing, cleanup efforts, and rebuilding.
State law mandates that insurers make initial payments for lost belongings without requiring a full inventory. This advance payment can be up to $250,000 and must be at least 30% of the dwelling coverage limit. Insurers must notify policyholders of this right. After receiving the advance, policyholders are entitled to full coverage up to their policy limits once they provide documentation.
Also Read – California’s Wildfire Destruction: The Priceless Treasures Lost Forever
For some homeowners, the losses are difficult to quantify. Daniel Morales, a retired consultant from West Altadena, lost thousands of books, artwork, and sentimental items collected over decades.
“How do you put a price on things that have personal and historical significance?” Morales said. He was offered 80% of his coverage limit without documentation, with the remaining 20% contingent on proof of loss. “A total loss should mean full coverage,” he added.
Another Altadena resident, an engineer, has yet to receive any compensation for his home’s contents, including a valuable collection of guitars and ham radio equipment. He expressed frustration over the insurance process, describing it as a source of additional stress.
Jennifer Gray Thompson, founder of After the Fire USA, commended Lara’s initiative, emphasizing that requiring survivors to itemize everything they lost significantly delays recovery.
“Reconstructing an entire household’s inventory is both emotionally draining and time-consuming,” Thompson explained. She advised homeowners to take videos of their belongings in advance, capturing the contents of closets, drawers, and storage areas to simplify claims in the event of a disaster.
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