Wildfire Smoke: The Hidden Threat to Your Home? California Acts.
Thousands of California homeowners have faced a silent danger: homes left standing after wildfires, but infiltrated by toxic smoke and ash. This contamination created health risks and led to frustrating battles with insurance companies. Now, Governor Newsom has signed groundbreaking legislation to establish the first-in-the-nation scientific standards for testing and cleaning smoke-damaged homes. These new laws ensure insurers must cover the costs, providing crucial protection as wildfire seasons intensify across the West.
For too long, homeowners in areas like Altadena, impacted by devastating events such as the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires, discovered their homes were unsafe even without direct flame damage. Toxic materials like asbestos and lead from wildfire ash lingered, causing health issues and forcing residents into lengthy disputes with their insurance providers who often offered conflicting advice or insufficient support. This left many families in limbo, unable to return home.
Responding to these widespread struggles, Assemblymember John Harabedian authored Assembly Bill 1642. This vital legislation directs California to create clear, scientific standards for what constitutes a safe home after smoke exposure, along with guidelines for proper cleanup. This means that finally, the question of whether a home is habitable will be answered by expert data, not an insurance company's judgment.
A companion bill, AB 1795, strengthens these protections by requiring insurance companies to abide by these new standards promptly during the claims process. This change is a direct result of tireless advocacy from groups like Eaton Fire Residents United, whose founder Jane Lawton Potelle experienced the struggle firsthand. These laws acknowledge that a house that looks fine on the outside can still be a health hazard within.
With wildfires becoming a year-round reality due to climate change, these new protections are more critical than ever. They represent California’s commitment to not leave survivors alone, making insurer obligations clearer and giving homeowners financial flexibility when they need it most. Beyond smoke damage, additional legislation signed by the governor will also allow for up to a year of mortgage forbearance for those whose homes become uninhabitable due to wildfire or other disasters, further supporting communities in a warming world.