A single wildfire can devastate a community. Local governments, property owners, renters, and businesses may suffer overwhelming losses. Insurance coverage alone is often insufficient to help you rebuild, but an experienced fire damage attorney who has extensive resources can help you repair, rebuild, and recover.
Current Wildfire Investigations
Our firm is currently investigating the Dixie Fire that began at approximately 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday, July 13, 2021. It grew into the largest single source wildfire in California history and the second-largest wildfire in United States history. Approximately 1,300 square miles were destroyed, nearly one million acres were turned to ash, and 1,329 structures were destroyed throughout Butte, Plumas, Tehama, Lassen, and Shasta counties in California.
While the official cause of the Dixie Fire remains under investigation, government officials and Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) spokespeople agree that PG&E may have contributed to the fire.
The fire allegedly began when a Douglas fir tree fell on a PG&E power line in Feather River Canyon. PG&E detected a power outage and sent a maintenance worker to the area. However, it took the maintenance worker approximately ten hours to reach the site due to the terrain and road work. During the ten-hour delay, PG&E allegedly failed to cut the power to the affected area, and multiple fuses blew.
A brush fire had begun by the time the worker arrived, and the worker was unable to put the fire out. Over the next several hours, the fire grew out of control.
Utility Companies Commonly Cause Wildfires
The Dixie Fire caused exceptional devastation, but it started in much the same way as other destructive wildfires. According to our experienced fire damage attorney, fires often begin because of negligent electric and gas utility companies. For example, a utility company may be responsible for causing a wildfire if it failed to:
- Remove trees that could fall onto power lines
- Clear brush near its equipment that could fuel a fire
- Use fireproof materials or properly separate lines
- Maintain equipment
- Respond to power outages and equipment failures in a timely manner
- Turn off the power when conditions require it
- Train maintenance workers in how to respond to equipment failures or power outages
A thorough investigation must be completed to determine exactly how the fire started and who may be liable for all the damage it caused. Not to mention compensation for damages, which our fire damage attorney can most certainly help you obtain.
How to Value Your Fire Damage
Wildfires don’t spare anyone or anything in their paths. Local governments, individual property owners, renters, and businesses all share in the destruction. If you’ve suffered losses in the Dixie Fire, or any other wildfire around the country, our fire damage attorney may be able to help you obtain financial compensation, including:
- Building structure damage or loss
- Loss of personal possessions
- Loss of inventory or business possessions
- Business interruption
- Damage to trees and landscaping
- Loss of crops
- Smoke damage
- Plumbing damage
- Water damage
- Electrical damage
- Personal injuries
- Wrongful deaths
- Emotional injuries
- Stress and inconvenience
- Loss of income
- Evacuation expenses
- Pets or livestock that are injured or killed
- Depreciation of property
- Loss of use and enjoyment of property
- Repair costs
Most people and businesses impacted by wildfires suffer many of these losses, and when you do, having an experienced fire damage attorney on your side can go a long way.
Insurance May Not Be Enough to Compensate You for Your Fire Loss
You may have homeowners, renters, or business fire insurance, but your insurance policy still may not compensate you for all of your damages. For example, you may be:
- Underinsured in some areas. Your policy limit may not be enough to compensate you for all of your personal belongings, the building structure, and your landscaping losses.
- Uninsured in some areas. Your property or business insurance policy likely doesn’t cover landscaping, emotional losses, or lost income.
If the insurance company undervalues, delays, or denies your claim, our fire damage attorney will make sure that you are treated fairly. We will actively pursue all fair recoveries from all applicable insurance companies and pursue litigation against any utility company or corporation that may have caused the fire.
Get the Fire Compensation You Deserve With the Help of an Experienced Fire Damage Attorney
Wildfire claims against utility companies are complex, but fair recoveries are possible with the help of an experienced fire damage attorney.
Gray and White Law has significant fire litigation experience. Our firm represents more than 400 individuals and over 200 properties for property damage caused by the Woolsey Fire, which started near Simi Valley in November 2018 and went on to burn almost 97,000 acres in Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
Our fire damage attorney knows how to investigate and prove wildfire cases. We work closely with trusted experts in the field, including:
- GPS waypoint coordination experts
- Arson and ignition source investigators
- Drone surveillance experts
- Property claims adjusters
- Wildfire damage forensic specialists
- Arborists
While we have extensive California wildfire litigation experience, we also have more than 25 years of experience representing local governments and private individuals against some of the world’s largest corporations. Currently, we represent more than 50 local governments in national opioid litigation, and we are one of the principal litigators against the “Big 3” national opioid distributors.
As a result, our legal team can effectively navigate complex multi-party litigation against utility companies and other large corporations.
Gray and White Law is proud to have achieved the highest rating “AV” for skill and ethics by Martindale every year since the year 2000. Additionally, Mark Gray and Matt White have been named among the top 500 plaintiff lawyers in America by the prestigious national rating publication Lawdragon.
We know how to win difficult cases, and we fight every case to win.
Call for a Free Consultation and Learn About Our No-Fee Policy
The wildfire has cost you enough already. You shouldn’t have to take a financial risk to get the compensation you deserve.
Our fire damage attorneys always offer free consultations and a No Fee Policy. Simply put, we do not charge hourly fees, and we are only paid if we win your case.
You deserve serious, experienced, and dedicated attorneys to help you fight your complex wildfire case. Call us at 888-450-4456, start a live chat with us, or complete our online contact form any time—24/7/365—to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.