California ‘insurer of last resort’ accused of unfairly denying claims

After the fire at the CZU Lightning Complex Santa Cruz Mountains In 2020, Sarah Maples’ home was one of the few boulder creek The neighborhood stood still. But after returning to the three-bedroom home made of old-growth redwood, Maples discovered that the smoke from the wildfire had submerged the interior and ruined most of its belongings.

“I came back to my house after the evacuation order was lifted and the smoke inside just smelled,” Maple said. “You could just see the particles in the air, and everything was covered in ash and soot. It smelled awful, like nausea. ,

When Maples tried to file an insurance claim through her insurance provider — California Fair Plan — she said her policy would not cover it because there were no “material changes” to her home. She said that the total cost of damages and expenses is over $200,000,

“They sent me a check $1,100 To buy some HEPA filters and tell me to Swiffer my house,” Maples said.