California Wildfire
Response Resource Center
Legal Insights and Resources to Support California’s Wildfire Recovery
Wildfires leave behind more than just physical destruction – they create a complex web of legal challenges that impact homeowners, businesses, and communities across California. Attorneys play a vital role in helping clients recover, navigate insurance claims, rebuild property and understand regulatory changes.
CEB provides expert-driven legal insights, MCLE courses, and news updates to help attorneys respond effectively. Our upcoming Wildfire Response Resource Center is a carefully curated collection of resources designed to support you in navigating the legal complexities that arise in the wake of these disasters. It will be updated as new developments, such as case law or executive and legislative actions occur.
Access to specific content depends on your subscription level—all logged-in users can access news updates, MCLE courses are available to Passport subscribers, and Practitioner content is accessible only to Practitioner subscribers.
Key Legal Areas Covered
In-depth analysis of key legal issues that cut across multiple practice areas, including insurance, housing, CEQA, environmental policy, administrative procedure, executive and legislative action, and much more.
Insurance Coverage and Claims
Wildfires often lead to complex insurance disputes, with property owners and businesses facing delayed claims, denied coverage, and financial uncertainty. Attorneys must be prepared to advocate for their clients, whether negotiating with insurers or litigating coverage issues.
- Learn how to evaluate policy language, exclusions, and coverage for wildfire-related losses
- Gain insight into claims strategies, litigation approaches, and settlement negotiations
- Help clients navigate claims to mitigate losses and recover lost profits with property and business interruption insurance.
- Explore the challenges of California’s last-resort insurance program.
Featured Resources:
WHITE PAPER
Insurance After the California Wildfires: Guiding Clients Through Coverage Claims
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NEWS
CA Insurance Commissioner Shields Coverage for Southern California Residents in Areas Impacted By Wildfires
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NEWS
ClimateBrief: How Will California’s FAIR Plan Meet Its Financial Obligation for January’s SoCal Wildfires
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MCLE
Wildfire Insurance Claims: Handling and Litigating Property Damage Claims
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NEWS
Hanson Bridgett Partner Linda Klamm on Navigating Homeowners Insurance After the LA Fires
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MCLE
Property and Business Interruption Insurance
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Housing and Real Estate
In the wake of wildfires, property owners must navigate rebuilding efforts, fire hardening, laws, and legal disputes related to real estate transactions. Attorneys advising on wildfire-related real estate issues must stay updated on evolving regulations.
- Learn about mandatory fire risk disclosures and potential liability.
- Stay informed on laws protecting displaced residents from predatory pricing.
Featured Resources:
MCLE
Fire Hardening Laws: Real Estate Disclosures and Potential for Lawsuits
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NEWS
After SoCal Fires, California Acts Quickly to Tweak Price Gouging Rules That May Have Actually Limited Housing Supply
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Legislative Activity
Attorneys need to stay up-to-date on all the proposed bills and signed legislation that impacts wildfire response and rebuilding, from environmental policy to housing policy.
- Learn about the newest bills as they’re signed into law
- Understand how new legislation may impact how you advise your clients
Featured Resources:
NEWS
California Insurance Commissioner Investigates State Farm in LA Fire Aftermath
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Criminal Liability and Enforcement
Stay up-to-date on the latest criminal investigations and prosecutions related to the recent fires or interference with firefighting efforts. Understand the legal repercussions of actions that disrupt emergency response efforts.
Featured Resources:
NEWS
City of Los Angeles Sues Airbnb, Alleging Rampant Price Gouging in SoCal Wildfire Aftermath
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NEWS
LA Files $62 Million Lawsuit Alleging Price Gouging, Short-Term Rental Violations After SoCal Fires
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NEWS
Culver City Man Pleads Guilty to Crashing Drone into Firefighting Aircraft During Palisades Fire
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Environmental Policy
Wildfires significantly impact California’s environment, water resources, and land use regulations. Attorneys must navigate the intersection of disaster relief and environmental law, ensuring compliance with key regulations while advocating for efficient recovery efforts.
- Stay informed on the frequent changes and interpretations to the executive orders suspending CEQA and the Coastal Act
- Understand legal considerations related to water access, drought policies, and wildfire-affected ecosystems
PRACTITIONER
Evaluating the Impact of Suspension of State Laws on Land Use Projects
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PRACTITIONER
Chart: Types of Projects Affected by CEQA/Coastal Act Suspension
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PRACTITIONER
Checklist: Is My Project Affected by State Law Suspensions in Response to Disaster?
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Featured Resources:
NEWS
ClimateBrief: California Water Law Expert Brian Gray on the Politics of Water Management After the LA Fires
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NEWS
ClimateBrief: CARB Board Meeting Addresses LA Fire Response, While Members of the Public Call for Updated Methane Regulations
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NEWS
Balancing Environmental Protection with Disaster Relief: Considering the Environmental Review Suspensions After the LA Fires
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NEWS
California Insurance Commissioner Investigates State Farm in LA Fire Aftermath
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Disaster Assistance and Recovery
After a wildfire, individuals and businesses need immediate and long-term assistance to rebuild their lives. Attorneys play a crucial role in ensuring their clients access available relief programs and navigate legal obstacles.
Understand how to guide clients through FEMA claims, state relief programs and rebuilding efforts.
Featured Resources:
MCLE
Disaster Assistance 101: Legal Considerations & Volunteer Opportunities
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Executive Orders and Emergency Regulations
During wildfire emergencies, state and local governments issue executive orders and temporary regulations to streamline response efforts, suspend certain environmental requirements, and expedite rebuilding. Attorneys advising clients on wildfire-related legal matters must stay updated on these evolving directives.
Learn how emergency orders impact land use, environmental review, and rebuilding efforts.
Featured Resources:
NEWS
California Insurance Commissioner Presses New Bill to Keep State’s Insurance Market Afloat After LA Fires
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WEBINAR
CEQA Suspension: 5 Key Interim Measures Every Attorney Should Know for Wildfire Recovery
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NEWS
California Lawmakers Propose Two New Grant Funds for Climate Resilience and Fire Hardening
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WEBINAR
CEQA Suspension: 5 Key Interim Measures Every Attorney Should Know
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Access the Wildfire Resource Center Coming Soon
This is just a preview of the wildfire-related legal content available today. Watch for updates on the release of our full Wildfire Response Resource Center—a comprehensive hub that will pull together all wildfire-related content, coming soon.
