Some California Wildfires Double in Size, Claim Lives

Aug. 31, 2009 -- Nearly a dozen wildfires that began burning in southern California during the past week killed two firefighters over the weekend and threaten some 12,000 homes as they continue burning mostly unchecked with some fires doubling in size during the past day, according to local officials.

Two firefighters, Capt. Tedmund Hall, 47, and Spc. Arnaldo “Arnie” Quinones, 35, were killed yesterday when the vehicle in which they were traveling careened down the side of a mountain. Another 13 firefighters have been injured battling the blazes in the Angeles National Forest.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles and Monterey counties, where 21 homes and tens of thousands of acres have been destroyed and thousands more homes are threatened with destruction. Residents in threatened areas were ordered to evacuate, but some ignored the warnings and now are trapped and must hope the fires don’t reach them before being contained.

The wildfires also are threatening critical communications on Mount Wilson in the Los Angeles area with 22 television stations, 25 radio stations and several cellular phone towers facing potential destruction as well as the famed Mount Wilson observatory. An army of 6,400 firefighters and an air fleet of 50 helicopters is battling the blazes, which local officials said is about 5 percent contained.

Unfortunately for California residents, wildfires have become a common occurrence in recent years.

Wildfires destroyed more than a million acres of land and 158 homes in California last year. And nearly 2,000 homes in Los Angeles and Southern California were destroyed by wildfires in 2007, causing an estimated $2 billion in damages. Of the $2 billion in damages, insurance companies paid $1.8 billion in homeowners’ insurance claims, according to California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner.

To fully protect themselves, homeowners must be sure they are prepared not only for fire protection but for the potential need to file a homeowners insurance claim. Making mistakes on insurance claims can cause problems and disagreements between company officials and policyholders.

The California Department of Insurance in 2007 helped residents obtain $9 million in settlement funds from companies over homeowner insurance disputes. Department officials had received 359 complaints from consumers regarding settlements for homes damaged or destroyed by wildfires in 2007.

Homeowners should check to be sure home insurance policies cover potential fire damages, fully inventory their homes and belongings and store their insurance records and supporting documentation in a safe, fireproof place. Residents also should know if their homeowner insurance policies offer full replacement, deduct for depreciation or limit potential settlements in any way in case their homes fall victim to a wildfire or other mishap.