California wildfire survivors press insurers to cover toxic smoke testing in undamaged homes

They also want coverage for inspections of attics, interior walls, ductwork, and heating and cooling systems.

People whose homes remained standing after the Eaton and Palisades fires are urging California's next insurance commissioner to make sure insurers pay for testing that can identify full smoke contamination, not merely the cleanup of visible damage.

What to know

Six survivor organizations are asking two Democrats running for California insurance commissioner to make commitments. According to Pasadena Now, they want state Sen. Ben Allen and former San Francisco supervisor Jane Kim to promise insurer-funded testing and cleanup for smoke-damaged homes.

The coalition says homeowners should not have to pay to prove that a house left standing after a wildfire may still be unsafe.

Every Fire Survivor's Network, Eaton Fire Residents United, LA Standing Homes Network, two Pacific Palisades survivor groups, and Surviving Structures Eaton Fire are seeking insurance coverage for inspections that go beyond obvious soot and smoke staining.

They also want checks of attics, interior walls, ductwork, and heating and air-conditioning systems. The testing they describe would also look for hazardous materials such as lead, lithium, and arsenic.

Additional background

The California Department of Insurance says more than 13,000 of roughly 40,000 insurance claims linked to the 2025 fires involve smoke damage to homes that did not burn, according to Pasadena Now. For many families, that means a house may still be standing even though concerns remain about the air, surfaces, and hidden interior spaces.

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What is being done?

For survivors, the immediate battle is over costs that state law is also expected to address.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two wildfire smoke bills, Assembly Bills 1642 and 1795, into law in September. They are scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.

Until state agencies finish developing the remaining technical standards, homeowners may still have to cover the price of specialized testing themselves. That is why survivor groups are pushing for a commitment from the state's insurance commissioner.

Where can I learn more?

These stories raise similar questions about what wildfire insurance should cover when a home survives but smoke contamination remains:

• Gov. Newsom signed a California law requiring insurers to pay for toxic smoke cleanup.

• In Los Angeles, homes that still stand may conceal dangerous contamination after wildfire smoke.

• California wildfire survivors criticized Newsom's veto of insurer accountability bills after repeated claim disputes.

• In Los Angeles, fire survivors launched a public insurance survey tracking payouts and delays.

• California homeowners secured two years of post-fire insurance protection under a Newsom-backed bill.