Insurance cancellations banned for local wildfires

California regulators imposed a one-year moratorium on canceling or declining to renew insurance policies for residents living in or near areas burned during the Airport, Bridge and Line fires this month.

The Department of Insurance bulletin, issued last Thursday, will affect homeowners living in 91 ZIP codes in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

The ban will remain in effect through Sept. 7, 2025, for San Bernardino County residents affected by the Line Fire, and through Sept. 11, 2025, for residents of all four counties affected by the Airport and Bridge fires.

The three fires collectively burned almost 118,000 acres since Sept. 5.

See also: Anguished homeowners struggle to keep their insurance

A 2018 law authored by state Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara when he still was a state senator created the one-year moratoriums for residents in or near fires that resulted in a state emergency declaration.

“Losing your insurance should be the last thing on someone’s mind after surviving a devastating fire,” Lara said in the bulletin. “This law gives millions of Californians breathing room and hits the pause button on insurance non-renewals while people recover.”

The law has been invoked 28 times since its passage, including five times this past summer.

This news comes as property owners are struggling to keep their insurance coverage.

The number of California homeowner’s policies canceled or not renewed by insurance companies increased 46% from 2018 through 2021, the most recent year available, state figures show. The number of policyholders forced to use the state’s insurer of last resort, the costly FAIR Plan, increased 164% since 2019.

See also: Homeowners join consumer advocates in assailing California insurance reforms

The moratorium only affects residential policyholders, prohibiting all insurance companies from discontinuing coverage due to wildfire risk, the Department of Insurance bulletin said. It affects owners of houses, condos and manufactured homes as well as renters.

Residents who get a notice of cancellation or non-renewal should contact their insurance company to seek a policy reinstatement, the bulletin said. If the insurance company refuses, they can contact the Department of Insurance and file a “Request for Assistance.”

— To see Line, Airport and Bridge fire ZIP codes affected by the moratorium, CLICK HERE

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