The devastating wildfires that swept through Southern California in January 2025 left thousands of homeowners facing the difficult task of recovering and rebuilding. One of the biggest challenges for many survivors is recovering the value of what was lost inside their homes — furniture, clothing, electronics, and other personal belongings.
Recent developments in California law and insurance regulation directly affect how these personal property claims are handled. A formal request from the Insurance Commissioner earlier this year and a new law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in October both aim to make it easier for wildfire survivors to receive full compensation.
California’s wildfires leave a trail of destruction in their wake—homes reduced to rubble, communities displaced, and lives forever changed. Beyond this devastation, the opportunity for looting emerges.