California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has announced the formation of a new Smoke Claims & Remediation Task Force within the California Department of Insurance. The initiative responds to growing concerns over inconsistent handling of smoke damage claims following recent devastating wildfires.
Addressing a Longstanding Gap in Smoke Damage Standards
For more than three decades, California lacked uniform guidelines for evaluating and settling insurance claims related to smoke damage. Commissioner Lara acknowledged the consequences: delays, confusion, and families returning to homes that may not be safe. The newly formed Task Force aims to develop science-based standards to address these challenges and improve outcomes for affected residents.
Wildfire Smoke Impacts Are Expanding
While previous wildfires in places like Santa Rosa and Paradise left lasting damage, today’s wildfire smoke reaches farther into urban areas, affecting densely populated communities. With no established statewide protocols, insurers have varied in their response, sometimes denying smoke claims altogether or requiring homeowners to clean visible damage before claims are even considered.
Recent Directives to Insurers
In March, Commissioner Lara issued a formal Bulletin mandating that insurers fully investigate and pay legitimate smoke damage claims. The California FAIR Plan, the state’s insurer of last resort, received a separate directive to follow the same standard.
Task Force Goals and Membership
The Smoke Claims & Remediation Task Force will include a range of stakeholders, including:
- Public health and environmental health professionals
- Smoke remediation specialists
- Fire safety experts
- Consumer advocates
Together, the group will recommend:
- Uniform standards for inspecting, testing, and remediating smoke-damaged properties
- Guidelines for determining the health and safety status of affected structures
- Roles for state and local agencies in enforcing the standards and mitigating fraudulent claims
Task Force members are currently being appointed, with the first meeting to follow the full announcement of participants.
Support for Impacted Consumers
Residents with questions about insurance coverage or damage claims can reach the California Department of Insurance at 800-927-4357 or visit insurance.ca.gov for live chat and email support.
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