The homeowners are a couple with two children; both parents are contractors. As the Tubbs Fire approached their property’s vicinity, the wife gathered the children and the family dog and quickly prepared to leave. She took only a few things with her, as she was concerned about getting the children out safely. Her husband was staying with friends in town close to a worksite, and she asked him to return later that day and retrieve more of their possessions. When he went back, he was able to grab just a limited number of items because the fire was bearing down on the house.
The fire destroyed their two-story, 4,200-square-foot house, pool and pool house, and water shed with filtration, along with all household items, including heirloom musical instruments, antique furniture, computers, cameras, electronics, artwork, and more — a total loss. The property was heavily wooded with firs and redwood trees, which all burned. The fire also demolished the property’s underground irrigation system and wiring.
The homeowners undertook the cleanup themselves and began rebuilding, but they encountered difficulties in working with their insurance company to be reimbursed for their losses. Discouraged and exasperated, they reached out to our firm for assistance. We took action on their behalf and succeeded in winning a settlement of over $4.6 million to help this family rebuild their home and their lives.