Hurst and Eaton Fire Resources for Residents of Altadena, Sylmar
The NAACP and Singleton Schreiber share a deep commitment to the well-being and empowerment of communities of color. We are deeply saddened by the tragic fires in LA that have left historic black communities like Altadena in ashes. Many homeowners in this area also had insurance policies cancelled just before the fires struck, adding insult to injury.
Singleton Schreiber and the NAACP are seeking justice for the residents of Altadena, Sylmar, and other neighboring communities that were struck by the Eaton Fire and Hurst Fire, as they are victims of powerful corporations prioritizing profit over people.
Cornered by Redlining and Left Uninsured, Altadena Was Exposed to Devastation
More than 20% of the Altadena residents affected by the Eaton Fire are black, according to the LA Times, even though black residents only make up 8% of the population in Los Angeles County.
These residents moved into homes on the west side of Lake Avenue due to redlining, a discriminatory practice that prevented people of color from moving into predominantly white neighborhoods. Altadena was mostly white in the 1950s, but the Fair Housing Act of 1968 helped black and minority families to buy property there, and saw the black population of Altadena rise to 43% by the late 1970s.
Many of the black first-time homebuyers from that time stayed in the area, making for a community where about 25% of the black residents are currently over the age of 65, and the median price of a house in the area is around $1.3 million.
Now, as insurance companies have rescinded coverage there en masse, and the power company’s negligence may have caused the fire that destroyed their homes, many of the same residents fear that those generational gains that propelled them into the middle class could be lost forever.
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Power Company and Insurance Companies Face Legal Exposure Over Hurst, Eaton Fires
Southern California Edison (SCE) may be responsible for causing the Eaton Fire near Altadena. Multiple lawsuits have alleged that the company was negligent in not shutting down its power lines before the fire, even in the face of strong warnings that extreme dryness and high winds made conditions ripe for a wildfire in the area.
The lawsuit alleges that the Eaton Fire started at the base of a transmission tower owned and operated by SCE, which the company did not shut off despite its knowledge of the high-risk circumstances. It cites eyewitnesses and provides images that appear to show a fire burning at the base of the tower in question.
“A photo included in the lawsuit shows an island of flames rising around the base of the tower at 6:21 p.m., six minutes after the wildfire began. The lawsuit also includes accounts from witnesses who said the fire started under the power lines.
An electric grid monitoring company also recorded over 300 instances of faults – disturbances in the network caused by tree limbs touching live electrical wires or wires touching each other – in the hours leading up to the conflagration.
The faults indicate that power was still running through the lines despite an avalanche of warnings, including a National Weather Service Red Flag Warning forecasting winds up to 100 mph amid tinderbox conditions.”
Another video also recently surfaced showing power lines running through Eaton Canyon arcing due to the high winds just moments before the blaze ignited. Over the next few days, the fire destroyed at least 7,000 structures and left multiple people dead, after burning more than 14,000 acres.
The official investigation into what caused the Eaton Fire remains ongoing. Contact an Eaton Fire lawyer today to learn more information about the timeline, investigation, and how Eaton Fire victims can file a claim for compensation.
The official investigation into what caused the Eaton Fire remains ongoing. Contact an Eaton Fire lawyer today to learn more information about the timeline, investigation, and how Eaton Fire victims can file a claim for compensation.
Hurst Fire Could Have Also Been Sparked by Live Power Lines
The Hurst Fire ignited on January 7th in the Sylmar neighborhood of Los Angeles. The fire has grown to 850 acres, while structure damages and injuries are still being assessed. At least 3,000 residents were ordered to evacuate the area as 300 firefighters and personnel work to contain the blaze.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but we believe it may be utility-related. CHP received a report of a power line explosion when strong winds caused the lines to arc.
If you are a Sylmar resident affected by the Hurst Fire, contact a Hurst Fire lawyer today to find out how you can file a claim to receive the full and fair compensation you deserve.
Insurance Company Lawsuit Over LA Fires Could Be Imminent
According to the LA Times, in the months before the Hurst and Eaton fires destroyed thousands of homes and businesses in Los Angeles county, insurers like Farmers, State Farm, Allstate and more chose not to renew thousands of policies in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and other areas that were known to be fire-prone, just so that they would not have to pay out those policies in the likely event of such a tragedy.
These cancellations left many victims with no support after they lost everything in the Palisades, Hurst, and Eaton Fires. The state’s largest home insurer, State Farm General, announced last March that it wasn’t renewing more than 30,000 homeowner insurance policies, which included more than 1,600 in Pacific Palisades alone.
Consumer advocates have accused big insurers of “climate change opportunism,” pointing out that they made record profits of $87.6 billion in 2023 from property insurance alone, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. In 2024, they were on pace to recoup nearly $130 billion from those policies.
As the damage from the LA wildfires has exceeded $50 billion and counting, experts say homeowners could face months of paperwork to prove that they have lost what they are claiming, along with pressure to settle quickly for less than they are entitled to, according to their policies.
If you are a victim of the Hurst or Eaton Fire who recently had your insurance policy cancelled, whether you own a house or a condo, or even if you are a renter, contact our LA wildfire attorneys today to learn about how you can receive compensation in a lawsuit against California insurance companies, or speak with our experts about insurance claim assistance to make sure you are receiving the full amount you are entitled to receive from your insurer.
Insurance Company Lawsuit Over LA Fires Could Be Imminent
According to the LA Times, in the months before the Hurst and Eaton fires destroyed thousands of homes and businesses in Los Angeles county, insurers like Farmers, State Farm, Allstate and more chose not to renew thousands of policies in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and other areas that were known to be fire-prone, just so that they would not have to pay out those policies in the likely event of such a tragedy.
These cancellations left many victims with no support after they lost everything in the Palisades, Hurst, and Eaton Fires. The state’s largest home insurer, State Farm General, announced last March that it wasn’t renewing more than 30,000 homeowner insurance policies, which included more than 1,600 in Pacific Palisades alone.
Consumer advocates have accused big insurers of “climate change opportunism,” pointing out that they made record profits of $87.6 billion in 2023 from property insurance alone, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. In 2024, they were on pace to recoup nearly $130 billion from those policies.
As the damage from the LA wildfires has exceeded $50 billion and counting, experts say homeowners could face months of paperwork to prove that they have lost what they are claiming, along with pressure to settle quickly for less than they are entitled to, according to their policies.
If you are a victim of the Hurst or Eaton Fire who recently had your insurance policy cancelled, whether you own a house or a condo, or even if you are a renter, contact our LA wildfire attorneys today to learn about how you can receive compensation in a lawsuit against California insurance companies, or speak with our experts about insurance claim assistance to make sure you are receiving the full amount you are entitled to receive from your insurer.
Hurst and Eaton Fire FAQs for Sylmar and Altadena Residents
How many insurance policies were dropped in California before the LA fires?
Major insurers have dropped tens of thousands of policies in the state in areas that are prone to wildfires, including thousands of cancellations in the months prior to the LA fires in the very neighborhoods they struck. Around 1,626 policies were dropped in Pacific Palisades by State Farm alone in July of 2024, according to CBS News, and the same company dropped more than 2,000 policies in other nearby areas during the same period.
Can residents still receive compensation even if their home insurance policy was cancelled?
Residents whose home insurance policies were cancelled prior to the January 2025 LA wildfires should contact an experienced wildfire litigation specialist to learn more about how they can receive compensation for any damage or injuries sustained, including property damage from fire, smoke inhalation, and wrongful death from fire.
What is the California FAIR Plan and how many people does it insure?
The FAIR Plan provides access to basic property coverage when it’s needed, capped at $3 million per property, so that Californians who live in areas threatened by wildfire have access to coverage. As of September 2024, the FAIR plan was the insurer for more than 450,000 policies, and the plan’s total exposure is $458 billion, a 61.3% increase since June 2023. You can learn more about the California FAIR Plan here.
Stronger Together
The NAACP and Singleton Schreiber share a deep commitment to the well-being and empowerment of communities of color, with a particular focus on supporting those who have long faced significant challenges to their safety and livelihoods, often due to the negligence of powerful corporations prioritizing profit over people.
If you have been affected by the Hurst or Eaton Fires, whether through property loss, displacement, or the cancellation of your insurance policy, please fill out the form below to learn about your rights and potential claims for compensation.
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