What Compensation Can I Get After a California Wildfire? Complete Damages Guide

If you've lost your home, belongings, or livelihood to a California wildfire, you're probably asking: "How much compensation can I actually recover?"

The answer depends on several factors—including whether you file a lawsuit against the responsible party, such as a utility company. But here's the important thing to understand: wildfire victims are often entitled to far more compensation than they realize.

This guide breaks down every type of compensation available to California wildfire victims, from property damage to emotional distress to lost income. Whether you were affected by the Eaton Fire, Palisades Fire, or any other California wildfire, understanding your rights is the first step to getting what you deserve.

Property Damage Compensation

Property damage is typically the largest category of compensation in wildfire cases. This includes:

Home and Structure Damage

If your home was damaged or destroyed, you can recover the full cost to repair or replace your home—not just what your insurance pays. This includes:

• Complete reconstruction costs at current market rates
• Upgrades required by current building codes
• Architect and engineering fees
• Permit costs
• Debris removal and site cleanup

Important: Many homeowners in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and other fire-affected areas are discovering their insurance coverage falls far short of actual rebuilding costs. A lawsuit against the responsible party (like SCE or LADWP) can recover the difference.

Outbuildings and Other Structures

Don't forget about other structures on your property: garages, sheds, guest houses, pool houses, fencing, retaining walls, driveways, and patios. These are all compensable losses.

Land Value Diminution

In some cases, your land itself may have lost value due to fire damage, soil contamination, or increased fire risk perception. You may be entitled to compensation for this diminished value.

Personal Property and Belongings

Everything inside your home has value—and you can be compensated for it. Personal property compensation includes:

• Furniture: Sofas, beds, tables, chairs, dressers—replacement cost, not depreciated value
• Electronics: TVs, computers, gaming systems, phones, tablets, smart home devices
• Appliances: Refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, ovens, microwaves
• Clothing: Every piece of clothing, shoes, accessories for every family member
• Jewelry and Watches: Engagement rings, wedding bands, heirlooms, luxury watches
• Artwork and Collectibles: Paintings, sculptures, antiques, sports memorabilia, collections
• Musical Instruments: Pianos, guitars, violins—especially valuable vintage instruments
• Sporting Equipment: Golf clubs, bicycles, surfboards, ski equipment, gym equipment
• Irreplaceable Items: Family photos, heirlooms, and sentimental items (compensated for their emotional value)

Pro Tip: Start documenting your losses immediately. Go room by room and list everything you owned. Check credit card statements, Amazon orders, and old photos for evidence of what you had.

Vehicles and Recreational Equipment

Vehicles destroyed in wildfires are compensable, including:

• Cars, trucks, and SUVs
• Motorcycles and ATVs
• RVs and travel trailers
• Boats and jet skis
• Golf carts
• Classic and collectible vehicles (at appraised value)

Trees, Landscaping, and Outdoor Features

This is an area where many fire victims leave money on the table. Mature trees can be worth tens of thousands of dollars each—and insurance policies typically provide minimal coverage for landscaping.

Compensable landscaping losses include:

• Mature trees (valued based on species, size, and replacement difficulty)
• Shrubs, bushes, and hedges
• Flower gardens and planters
• Irrigation systems
• Outdoor kitchens and BBQ areas
• Swimming pools and spas (repair or replacement)
• Outdoor furniture and décor
• Lawn and ground cover restoration

Additional Living Expenses (ALE)

When your home is uninhabitable, you're entitled to compensation for the increased cost of living elsewhere. This includes:

• Temporary housing: Hotel costs, rental homes, or apartments
• Increased food costs: Restaurant meals when you can't cook at home
• Storage fees: For belongings that survived the fire
• Transportation: Increased commuting costs from temporary location
• Pet boarding: If temporary housing doesn't allow pets
• Laundry and cleaning: Services you wouldn't normally need

Lost Income and Wages

If the fire caused you to miss work or lose income, you can be compensated for:

• Wages lost during evacuation
• Time off work to deal with insurance, contractors, and recovery
• Lost bonuses or commissions
• Reduced earning capacity if injured
• Self-employment income losses

Business and Commercial Losses

Business owners affected by wildfires can recover:

• Physical damage to commercial property
• Destroyed inventory and equipment
• Lost profits during closure
• Employee wages paid during shutdown
• Cost to relocate or rebuild
• Loss of business goodwill and customer relationships

Emotional Distress and Mental Health Damages

The trauma of losing your home to a wildfire is real and compensable. Emotional distress damages can include:

• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Sleep disorders and nightmares
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Cost of therapy and mental health treatment

Note: Insurance policies do NOT cover emotional distress. This is only recoverable through a lawsuit against the responsible party.

Medical Expenses and Physical Injuries

If you were physically injured due to the fire, you can recover:

• Emergency medical care
• Hospital stays and surgeries
• Burn treatment and rehabilitation
• Smoke inhalation treatment
• Ongoing medical care and prescriptions
• Physical therapy
• Future medical expenses

Wrongful Death Compensation

If you lost a family member in a wildfire, wrongful death damages can include:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of financial support the deceased would have provided
• Loss of companionship, love, and guidance
• Loss of household services
• Pain and suffering the deceased experienced before death

Maximize Your Wildfire Compensation

Most wildfire victims don't know everything they're entitled to—and insurance companies won't tell you. That's why having an experienced California wildfire attorney on your side is essential.

At Fire Claims Lawyer, we fight to recover every dollar you're owed. We know what damages are compensable, how to document them, and how to maximize your recovery against utility companies and other responsible parties.

Free consultation. No fee unless we win.