Every year, parts of Los Angeles erupt into flames. If located near an area with enough kindling, the flames can engulf entire communities in an instant. The physical, emotional, and financial toll on you ripples throughout your family and your community. If you lose your home, loved ones, and/or other valuables, the road to recovery can feel overwhelming.
The Los Angeles wildfire attorneys here at Vaziri Law LLP know that a catastrophic event like a wildfire can set families and communities back. If you suffered severe burns, loss of a home, or any other assets, our team is here to help you recover your losses.
With over $1 billion recovered for our clients and our combined legal experience of 200 years, our wildfire injury lawyers in Los Angeles can help you and your family get the support you need to get back on your feet.
Key Takeaways
- Wildfires are more likely to start when there is a combination of dry air, low humidity, drought, and high temperatures.
- Most wildfires are human induced through improper discarding of cigarettes or igniting explosives.
- Wildfires don’t only affect the air we breathe. They can contaminate our water reserves and our soil.
- Keeping your important documents together and having an evacuation plan with your household can save you a lot of time.
- Knowing about the resources California offers during an emergency is a great way to stay informed of the developing situation.
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What’s a Wildfire?
A wildfire is an uncontrolled fire in an area with a lot of kindling. Some start through natural causes such as lightning or volcanoes in the area. Most wildfires start because of people’s careless actions. Discarded cigarettes, unattended campfires, smoke bombs, fireworks, and other fire related items can spark uncontrolled fires that rapidly spread.
Los Angeles County has seen a variety of wildfires in its history, most notably the Palisades and Eaton Fires in early 2025, which together destroyed over 16,000 structures and resulted in 31 fatalities.
Controlled Fires
Controlled fires are a practice that trained professionals do to get some trees to release their seeds, while others need fire to sprout seeds, and sometimes wildfires are needed to keep the ecosystem healthy by killing insects and other diseases that harm the environment. These are usually done during cooler months and help reduce the risk of bigger fires in hotter months.
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How Do Wildfires Spread?
- High temperatures – In the summer, California easily reaches 100 degrees. This level of heat dries out plants and trees, which makes them more flammable.
- Low humidity – The dry air makes it easy for flames to start and spread quickly.
- Strong winds – Paired with the low humidity, strong winds can quickly turn a small fire into a raging wildfire.
- Prolonged drought – If there is no rain to soak the ground for an extended period, then there is nothing really holding a fire back after it starts. Even mild dampness can be the difference between a small brush fire and a major threat.
Common Injuries
A wildfire can expose large communities of people to various dangers. Flames, smoke, debris, and collapsing buildings are all immediate dangers. The following are common wildfire injuries:
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Brusing
- Cuts
- Chemical burns
- Respiratory illnesses
- Wrongful death
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Environmental Harms
Not only do wildfires harm individuals, but they also harm entire ecosystems. A wildfire releases hazardous chemicals that can affect the overall health of its people and the environment, including edible plants, animals, and water sources.
Air Quality
Poor air quality can exacerbate pre-existing medical conditions. Constant exposure to poor air quality can also cause various health problems like asthma, chronic bronchitis, cancer, and even heart attacks.
Children are also heavily vulnerable to poor air quality as it can cause asthma and increase the risk of pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses. It can also cause altered immune function, cardiovascular effects, and neurodevelopmental issues. For pregnant people, it can cause preterm birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth.
How to Breathe Safely in a Fire
If there’s a fire in the area, keep your windows and doors closed. Make or buy an air filter and keep it running in your home until the air quality gets better outdoors or if you must evacuate.
The best way to keep your lungs safe outdoors in a fire is by properly wearing a respirator. This means keeping it on over your nose and mouth at all times and not pulling it down to your chin.
How to Protect Your Eyes
In the middle of a fire, smoke will get into your eyes. Even if you’re not in the direct fire area, the smoke can travel and dry your eyes. It’s recommended to use artificial tears, wear goggles, and avoid rubbing your eyes.
Water Quality
In a fire, ash and debris fall from the sky. This can contaminate groundwater or other bodies of water in the immediate area. Thanks to the immense heat, plastic water pipes become heated and allow contaminants to enter water supplies at home.
A contaminated water supply can lead to the community developing diseases such as hepatitis A, dysentery, cholera, and more.
After a Fire
After a fire, check with the drinking water quality notices before using any water near the burn site. Your local water service will work to decontaminate the water to a safe level. In the meantime, use water bottles and find clean water filling stations.
Soil
Soil requires a lot of nutrients to help plants and other organic matter grow. A fire burns away all the moisture and microbes that help gardens thrive. This makes it difficult for people to start up their gardens again.
After a fire, most people must start from zero and take extensive steps to help revive their fields, yards, and/or gardens.
Get Your Soil Tested First
After a fire, your soil can become contaminated with lead, arsenic, and other toxic metals that can make returning home dangerous. Before returning home, get your soil tested by a local program or a private lab. If your soil is found to be above state or county safety standards, you will be advised to limit contact and create a remediation plan for your contaminated area.
What Do I Take During a Fire Evacuation?
You never know the damage a wildfire may cause to your home. Some places stay standing; others don’t. During this event, you and your household will need emergency provisions to hold yourselves over. It’s important to have a plan and these kits ready before disaster strikes.
Emergency Kits
Emergency kits are essential in every household. Having non-perishable food, water, and medicine stored in advance can be a great help to you and your family in an emergency. A first-aid kit stocked with bandages, antibiotic ointments, emergency blankets, gloves, and other supplies is also a good idea. You can make your own or buy a pre-made one and swap out the items as expiration dates come to pass.
If you or anyone in your household needs special medications or has other necessities like a wheelchair, have a plan to evacuate everyone before a fire breaks out. Creating an evacuation plan during a disaster guards against injuries and confusion, so plan ahead.
Important Documents
The best thing to do is store your important documents in a spot only you and your household know of. In the case of a fire, it makes it easy for you to grab all your important documents such as passports, birth certificates, insurance policies, social security cards, and any other important information that you may need without any problems. Keeping a “vital documents” file can help make evacuation planning easier.
Electronics
Laptops, computers, and consoles are all expensive and often irreplaceable. They store memories, important documents, and careers. Depending on the area where the fire starts, it may take some time for a fire to reach your home. Use your best judgment and start loading your car with these heavier items as soon as you think the fire is getting too close to your home.
Pets
If you have pets, don’t forget them! Take their food, medication, and anything else they may need to survive like their favorite blanket or toy. If you find yourself staying at a shelter, know that most of them will not allow your pet entry, unless it’s a service animal. If your pet is not a service animal, they may be left in a shelter with other pets.
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Decide on Meeting Places
In case of a fire, you need two meeting spots. One near your home and one far away from the fire. In the case where you and your household become separated, you know where you’re going to meet up and how to check in with each other.
These meeting places should be:
50 Feet Away
In the immediate aftermath of a fire, set up a meeting place with your household that’s near enough to avoid confusion, but far away enough to be free from any fire dangers. This way everyone knows where to go and lessens the stress of the situation. It also helps to assign tasks to people as they evacuate. This can include taking pets, documents, food, first aid kit, or any other necessary valuables.
Miles Away from the Fire
Once you have your household together, leave the immediate area. If you have other family members or loved ones in the area, plan to meet somewhere away from the fire. This is also a good way to make sure your family and loved ones are safe. Here, your group can make plans on what to do next.
How Can I Stay Updated on Fires in Los Angeles?
During any sort of natural disaster, it’s important to know how to stay connected both with and without the internet. Apps, radio, and TV stations are all ways you can stay informed of developing news.
With Internet
Stay on top of fire updates in California by visiting the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) website. There’s also an app called WatchDuty that gives you live alerts of fires across the country.
Without Internet
Sometimes in a fire, you won’t have access to cell service or internet. To stay informed, keep a battery powered radio or television to listen to reports from the local area. Learn about the radio stations in your area that focus on the news. Sometimes during a fire, you may not have access to the internet or cell service, so knowing this information in advance can help you stay informed.
Stay Connected
It’s always a good idea to keep spare batteries for your radio in storage. Charge a couple of power banks in advance so you can charge your phone or other devices if batteries drain during evacuation.
What a Wildfire Lawyer in Los Angeles Can Do for You
A wildfire lawyer in Los Angeles can take care of legal matters while you and your community figure out temporary homes, relocation, and recovering your property after a wildfire. These are the legal matters we take care of for you:
- Case Evaluation: We review the details of your case by identifying liable parties, the extent of your damages, and file your case in accordance with our findings.
- Negotiation: We negotiate with insurance companies to get you fair compensation for your injuries, losses, and future needs.
- Representation: In the case where your case goes to trial, we are prepared to represent you and fight for your rights in court.
Keep Your Insurance Honest and Fair
In a fire, properties will burn. Most people will have insurance policies on their properties just in case. However, it’s become common practice for insurance companies to remove home insurance plans immediately after a fire.
While California has made this illegal in recent years, that doesn’t mean your insurance company will not try to dismiss your claims. If your insurance cancelled your policy after a fire or tries to give you less compensation than you deserve, we can help!
What is Personal Injury?
Personal injury refers to harm or damage suffered by an individual due to someone else’s negligence. This can refer to two types of damage: physical and/or psychological. In a settlement, we help you recover compensation based on economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
If you suffered a physical injury such as a broken bone, you likely needed medical care. That medical care has a set price that you or your insurance pay. In a personal injury case, you’re able to be compensated for the cost of the visit, surgery, or any other treatments associated with your injuries. This includes additional medical expenses, lost wages, home renovations because of the injury, and anything else related to an injury gained in an accident.
Non-Economic Damages
An accident can psychologically affect you. Due to the intangible nature of these injuries, it is difficult to place monetary value on these types of losses. There is no fixed price tag on pain and suffering, emotional distress, or loss of companionship.
How are Pain and Suffering Damages Calculated?
There are two methods insurers can use to estimate the value of your hardships.
- Multiplier method: The insurer multiples your economic losses by a set number to determine your noneconomic losses. This multiplier is based on the severity of your injuries. In most cases, it is between a 1.5 to 5 multiplier.
- Per diem method: This method determines the number of days your pain will exist. You are then paid a flat rate for each day the insurer determines you will be in pain.
This is an imperfect method, but you can speak to an attorney to determine what a fair compensation will look like for your situation.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are a third type of compensation that happens in specific situations of gross negligence. This is a punishment against the negligent party added to your potential compensation and determined by a judge.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Los Angeles Wildfire?
Most wildfires are caused due to human negligence. In an investigation, if it is found that the fire started because of a non-natural course of action such as a downed powerline or reckless usage of pyrotechnics, you can hold the liable parties accountable for all the damage you and your loved ones experienced. Potential liable parties include:
- Utility companies: If the wildfire started because of a faulty power line or equipment, utility companies can be held liable.
- Building companies: If there is a company working out in the area and they start the fire due to faulty equipment or negligent actions, they can be held liable.
- Government agencies: If a government agency fails to properly maintain the forest or has inadequate fire prevention measures, they can also be held liable.
- Private property owners: If a fire started on a property and spiraled out of control, the owner can be held liable.
- Individual: If an individual caused a fire by lighting fireworks, leaving a campfire unattended, improperly discarding cigarette/vapes/e-cigarettes, or deliberately starting a fire, they can be held liable.
How to Determine Liability
In a wildfire, adjusters and attorneys will determine the cause of the wildfire using evidence provided by investigators and the community. Liability for a wildfire in Los Angeles can be determined by the following:
Duty of Care
The first step to find liability is that the injured party must prove the other party owed a duty of care. This means that the other party had a responsibility to act in a way to prevent harm. For example, the electric company has the responsibility to maintain safe premises when doing repairs.
Negligence
The injured parties must prove that the other party breached their duty of care and caused their injuries because of their actions. For example, if a company knew their power lines were failing and chose not to replace them, then a company can be held accountable if this started a wildfire.
Negligence Per Se
This is an extension of negligence. It means that someone violated a regulation, statute, or ordinance that was made to prevent danger. The people who were hurt because of this negligence must also be the party the regulation was created to protect. This violation must also be the cause of the injuries in the case.
Inverse Condemnation
Inverse condemnation states private property cannot be damaged or taken for public use without the owner being compensated. For example, if a downed powerline started a fire and damaged private property, then the owner has the right to be compensated for damages.
Public and Private Nuisance
This happens when someone makes it difficult for people to enjoy living on their land. For example, if a company exposes the public to smoke which causes respiratory ailments, the public can sue the company as a public nuisance.
How Long Do I Have to File a Wildfire Lawsuit?
There are two types of claims you can file after a wildfire: civil and fire insurance claims. They both have different time frames. Civil lawsuits have the standard 2 years after injury to file a claim.
Fire insurance claims must be submitted at least 12 months after the incident. If the loss happened during a State of Emergency, then the filing deadline must be extended to 24 months after the incident.
What if the Government Caused the Fire?
If you have evidence a government office started the fire, submit your evidence to a Los Angeles wildfire attorney as soon as possible. Most cases against the government have a shorter time frame to file, so it’s in your best interest to quickly start that process.
Can I Be a Part of a Class Action Lawsuit?
If the number of people filing suits for the same legal reasons grows, then your filing can become a part of a class action lawsuit. There are specific criteria the potential class action case must meet to qualify. Speak to your wildfire lawyer to learn more about the process.
What if I Rent a Property?
If you rent a property, then you can still file a claim if you lost anything in a wildfire. This can include personal belongings, relocation costs, and any medical expenses. If you rent, consider getting renter’s insurance to cover personal property losses and relocation costs.
Access Resources After a Fire
Recovering compensation via legal means is one half of the recovery process. In the aftermath, many families need immediate access to community programs that can help them start the rebuilding process.
We guide our clients towards:
- Local counseling and mental health programs
- Church or community support groups
- Online organizations that connect survivors across California
Our team is dedicated to helping the community, and we work in tandem with other organizations to get people the help they need in difficult times.
Contact a Los Angeles Wildfire Injury Lawyer Today
If you lost your home or experienced physical and/or emotional damages because of a wildfire, our team at Vaziri Law LLP can help you recover the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation or follow us on social media to learn more about your rights!
