How Insurance Interacts with the 2025 Los Angeles Wildfires Consolidated Debris Removal Program

Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara’s top priority is ensuring that wildfire survivors affected by the devastating Palisades, Eaton, and other fires in the Southern California region have sufficient insurance coverage to recover and rebuild.

As recovery moves to the removal of hazardous debris, Los Angeles County (County) has initiated its 2025 Los Angeles Wildfires Debris Removal Program (Program), in partnership with state and federal agencies.

This action was taken due to the health and safety concerns associated with hazardous substances, ash, and other materials as a result of the wildfires. Commissioner Lara has issued a Notice to all insurance companies that provides more detail on how property insurance will interact with the Program. Any policyholder affected by the wildfires should review their insurance policy to determine how debris removal benefits are paid.

Some key points to consider:

• If you agree to participate in the Program and sign the County’s Right of Entry (ROE) form, in most circumstances, you should not have any out-of-pocket costs over and above any insurance proceeds provided by your insurance company for debris removal. 
• If you have insurance coverage for debris removal that is included as part of the primary coverages for the buildings and contents, remittance to the County shall be limited to the unused benefit amount (if any) in that coverage category after the residence is completely rebuilt.
• If you have additional debris removal coverage in your policy, your insurance benefits for debris removal will be remitted directly to the County, after which you will not be liable for any further costs.
• The benefits of this program would apply even if you decide not to rebuild in the same location, but rebuild or purchase a replacement home in another location.
• State and federal law prohibits a duplication of benefits. If you receive any debris removal insurance proceeds directly from your insurance company, you will be required to reimburse the County. However, if you spend some or all of these proceeds on debris removal expenses, for services not provided by the Program, these expenses may offset what you will be required to reimburse the County. 
• If you have questions on the consolidated debris removal program and/or the County’s Right of Entry form, please contact the Los Angeles County Debris Removal Hotline at (844) FIRE DEBRIS or (844) 347-3332.

If you have questions on how the debris removal program will work with your insurance policy, please contact your insurance company or adjuster directly. If there are still questions after contacting your insurance company, please contact the California Department of Insurance at (800) 927‐4357 or visit us online at www.insurance.ca.gov.