Homeowners whose houses survived the Eaton and Palisades wildfires in January are still unable to return home because of the extensive smoke damage to their properties.
What’s happening?
Los Angeles residents have begun to rebuild after wildfires have devastated neighborhoods such as Altadena and the Pacific Palisades. However, many have been left in limbo as insurance companies like State Farm and Allstate have delayed approving restoration and remediation costs.
Smoke from the fires has left toxins lingering in the homes left standing. Many homeowners have already gotten estimates from remediation companies amounting to tens of thousands of dollars, according to NBC News , but they still have not gotten approval to begin repairs.
Rob Rhatt, an insurance analyst for Lending Tree, told NBC News that insurance companies often drag their feet on smoke damage claims because the damage is less visible and harder to determine.
Why are smoke damage repairs important?
Smoke inhalation can cause long-term lung damage , but the health effects of smoke damage are still not fully known. Smoke damage can leave harmful particles on the surfaces of a home, which may lead to negative impacts on a person’s health…