California Wildfire Lawyer

If you lost your home, your property, your business, or a loved one in a California wildfire, you may have the right to significant compensation — and you don’t have to face the responsible utility company alone. Many of California’s most destructive wildfires are caused by utility negligence, not nature. At The Wagner Law Group, our California wildfire attorneys represent victims across the state and bring proven experience few firms can match: we represented more than 650 families affected by the Camp Fire, and we represent Eaton Fire clients today. Whatever California wildfire affected you — recent or past — contact us today or call (833) 200-7111 for a free consultation. No fee unless we win.

California Wildfire Attorneys With Proven Results

When you search for a California wildfire lawyer, experience is the thing that actually separates one firm from another. Wildfire cases against utility companies are complex, document-heavy, and aggressively defended by corporations with enormous legal resources. You want attorneys who have already done this work — not a firm learning on your case.

The Wagner Law Group’s wildfire experience is concrete, not borrowed. We represented more than 650 families in the Camp Fire litigation against PG&E and recovered over $100 million on their behalf — and today we represent clients harmed by the Eaton Fire. That is direct, hands-on experience against the state’s largest utilities, not a track record assembled from other firms’ cases.

Across more than 42 years, our firm has also recovered over $300 million for our clients and taken on some of the largest corporations in the country — including a $72.4 million verdict in the Wal-Mart truckers case. That combination — wildfire-specific results plus a track record against major corporate defendants — is what we bring to every California wildfire victim we represent, no matter which fire affected them.

Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case. The $100 million figure reflects the total recovered for our Camp Fire clients as a group; individual recoveries varied based on each client’s losses. Every wildfire claim depends on its own facts.

Who Can File a California Wildfire Lawsuit?

If a California wildfire damaged your property, displaced you, harmed your health, or took the life of a family member — and a utility company’s equipment caused that fire — you may have a claim. This applies to recent fires and past fires that are still within the filing deadline. As new wildfires occur across California, The Wagner Law Group evaluates cases on an ongoing basis.

You may have a claim if you were affected as a:

• Homeowner — for property loss, total loss, structural damage, or smoke and ash contamination
• Renter — for lost or damaged belongings, displacement, and additional living expenses
• Business owner — for property damage, lost inventory, lost income, and business interruption
• Family member — for the wrongful death of a loved one killed in the fire
• Injured victim — for burns, smoke inhalation, and other physical injuries
• Anyone displaced or harmed — for evacuation costs, emotional distress, and ongoing health effects

Even if your home didn’t burn to the ground, you may still have a valid claim. And even if you’ve already received an insurance payout, you may still be able to pursue the utility for the gap. If you’re not sure whether your situation qualifies, a free case review is the fastest way to find out. Call (833) 200-7111.

Types of California Wildfire Claims

A wildfire can harm a family in many different ways at once, and California law recognizes several distinct types of claims a victim may bring against a responsible utility:

Property Damage Claims

The most common wildfire claim. Homeowners and renters whose property was destroyed, partially burned, or contaminated by smoke, soot, and ash may recover the cost to repair or replace what was lost — including the structure, personal belongings, landscaping, and outbuildings. Property damage claims can also include the diminished market value of a home located near a fire’s footprint.

Personal Injury Claims

Wildfires cause serious physical injuries — burns, smoke inhalation, respiratory damage, and injuries sustained during evacuation. A wildfire injury lawyer can pursue compensation for medical bills, future medical care, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering tied to those injuries.

Wrongful Death Claims

When a wildfire takes a life, surviving family members may bring a wrongful death claim against the responsible utility for the loss of their loved one — including funeral and burial expenses, lost financial support, and the loss of companionship and guidance. These are among the most serious wildfire cases, and they are handled with the care they deserve.

Business Interruption Claims

Businesses forced to close, evacuate, or rebuild after a wildfire suffer real, quantifiable losses. A business interruption claim can pursue lost revenue, the cost of temporary relocation, damaged inventory and equipment, and the ongoing economic harm of a disrupted operation.

Emotional Distress and Displacement

The trauma of losing a home, fleeing a fire, or living through displacement is real and legally recognized. Emotional distress, anxiety, and the upheaval of being forced from your community are compensable categories of harm in California wildfire litigation.

How California Wildfire Lawsuits Work

Who Is Liable for California Wildfires?

Many major California wildfires are caused by power line failures, equipment malfunctions, and utility negligence. When a utility company’s equipment ignites a wildfire, the property owners, renters, and businesses in the fire’s path may have a valid legal claim — regardless of whether the utility has filed for bankruptcy or launched a public relations campaign to limit its liability. The major investor-owned utilities whose equipment has been linked to California wildfires include Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E).

Inverse Condemnation — Why California Utility Wildfire Cases Are Different

California law gives wildfire victims a powerful legal tool that most personal injury plaintiffs do not have: a doctrine called inverse condemnation. Because public utilities use public infrastructure to deliver their service, California courts have held that a utility can be held liable for property damage caused by its equipment even without proof that the utility was negligent. In practical terms, a property owner generally must show that the utility’s equipment substantially caused the fire and damaged their property — not that the company acted carelessly.

This strict-liability framework is one of the main reasons California utility wildfire cases have produced some of the largest recoveries in the country. It shifts the focus away from the difficult, fact-intensive question of whether the utility behaved reasonably and toward the more provable question of whether its equipment caused the harm. Inverse condemnation typically applies to property damage; personal injury and wrongful death claims generally proceed under negligence and other theories. An experienced California wildfire attorney can explain how inverse condemnation and negligence claims work together to maximize a victim’s total recovery.

Negligence and Other Theories

Alongside inverse condemnation, wildfire victims often bring claims for negligence, private and public nuisance, trespass, and — where a utility’s conduct is especially egregious — punitive damages. When evidence shows a utility ignored known risks, deferred critical maintenance, or failed to de-energize lines during dangerous fire conditions, those facts can support claims that go well beyond simple property recovery.

Suing the Utility Responsible for Your California Wildfire

California’s major investor-owned utilities have each been linked to destructive wildfires, and claims against each follow the same core California legal framework — including inverse condemnation and negligence.

Southern California Edison (SCE) Wildfire Claims

Southern California Edison serves much of Southern and Central California. SCE equipment has been linked to several major wildfires, and the U.S. Department of Justice has sued the utility over the 2025 Eaton Fire. If an SCE-linked fire affected you, you may have a claim.

PG&E Wildfire Claims

Pacific Gas & Electric serves Northern and Central California and has been found responsible for some of the most destructive fires in state history, including the Camp Fire. PG&E’s bankruptcy did not eliminate victims’ rights to recover, and claims continue to be evaluated.

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) Wildfire Claims

San Diego Gas & Electric serves San Diego and southern Orange County. As with the other major utilities, SDG&E can be held responsible when its equipment is found to have caused a fire.

No matter which utility was involved, the path to recovery runs through the same California legal protections. Call (833) 200-7111 for a free review.

How Do California Wildfires Start? Common Causes of Utility Wildfires

Understanding how a wildfire ignited is central to any claim against a utility. While wildfires can start from many sources, a significant share of California’s most destructive fires have been traced to electrical infrastructure. Common utility-related ignition causes include:

• Power line failures — aging, damaged, or improperly maintained lines that arc, spark, or fall
• Equipment malfunctions — failed transformers, conductors, insulators, and other hardware
• Vegetation contact — trees and branches that contact power lines when a utility fails to maintain adequate clearance
• Failure to de-energize — keeping lines energized during high-wind, high-fire-risk conditions when a Public Safety Power Shutoff was warranted
• Deferred maintenance — a documented pattern of postponing inspections and repairs on aging infrastructure

When investigators — including Cal Fire, the U.S. Forest Service, or federal authorities — link a fire’s origin to utility equipment, that finding becomes a cornerstone of the victims’ civil claims.

What Compensation Can California Wildfire Victims Recover?

California wildfire victims can pursue compensation for a wide range of losses, including:

• Property damage, structural loss, and total loss of a home
• Lost, damaged, or destroyed personal belongings
• Diminished property value for homes near the fire’s footprint
• Temporary housing, rental, and additional living expenses
• Business losses, lost income, and business interruption
• Smoke, soot, and ash damage and the cost of professional remediation
• Medical expenses and future medical care for fire-related injuries
• Health effects from smoke and toxic exposure
• Emotional distress, anxiety, and trauma
• Wrongful death damages for surviving family members
• Evacuation and relocation costs
• Punitive damages, where a utility’s conduct involved conscious disregard for public safety

Smoke, Soot, and Health Damage — Even If Your Home Didn’t Burn

You do not have to have lost your home to the flames to have a claim. Homes and businesses outside the burn footprint frequently suffer significant smoke, soot, and ash contamination that requires professional remediation — and wildfire smoke carries fine particulates and toxic compounds that can cause real, documented health effects, from respiratory problems to long-term complications. Property contamination, the cost of professional cleaning and remediation, the loss of use of a home during cleanup, and smoke-related health impacts are all potentially recoverable categories of damage. If your property or your health was affected by a California wildfire in any way, it is worth having an attorney evaluate whether you have a claim.

How to File a California Wildfire Claim

Filing a wildfire claim against a utility company involves several stages, and an experienced attorney handles each one for you. The general process looks like this:

1. Free case review — an attorney confirms you were in the affected area, identifies the responsible utility, and evaluates your losses.
2. Investigation and evidence preservation — gathering documentation of your property, belongings, injuries, and the fire’s origin before evidence is lost.
3. Filing your claim — your attorney files the appropriate complaint or joins existing coordinated litigation against the utility.
4. Documentation of damages — building the full picture of your economic and non-economic losses, often with experts.
5. Negotiation or trial — most wildfire claims resolve through negotiated settlements, though some proceed to trial when a fair resolution isn’t offered.

You don’t need to navigate any of this alone, and you don’t pay anything unless you recover. Call (833) 200-7111 to start with a free wildfire claim review.

California Wildfire Lawsuits and Settlements

Most California wildfire cases against utilities resolve through settlements rather than trials — but the size and speed of a settlement often depends on the pressure that strong, well-prepared cases put on the utility. Large utility wildfire matters are frequently organized into coordinated proceedings, where many individual victims’ cases are managed together for efficiency while each person’s claim is still valued on its own losses.

An important distinction: in a coordinated wildfire proceeding, you are not splitting one shared award like a class action. Each victim’s recovery is based on their own property loss, injuries, and circumstances. That’s why having an attorney document the full extent of your specific losses matters so much — your recovery reflects your harm, not an average. Whether your case settles or goes to trial, the goal is the same: the maximum recovery the facts of your case support.

Wildfire Insurance Claims and Lawsuits — How They Work Together

Do You Need Insurance to File a Claim?

No. Even if you don’t have homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, you can still file a lawsuit against the responsible utility company. Your right to recover from the party that caused the fire does not depend on having a policy.

I Already Have Insurance — Can I Still Sue the Utility?

Yes. You can pursue an insurance claim and a lawsuit against the at-fault utility at the same time. Insurance often falls far short of a family’s total losses, and a claim against the responsible utility can pursue the gap — including categories insurance frequently undervalues or excludes, like full personal property value, diminished property value, and emotional distress.

I Already Received an Insurance Payout — Is It Too Late?

In many cases, no. Accepting an insurance payout does not automatically waive your right to pursue the utility for losses your policy didn’t fully cover. There are important rules about how insurance recovery and a utility lawsuit interact — including your insurer’s potential right of subrogation — so you should speak with an attorney before signing any release or assuming your claim is closed.

What to Do If You Were Affected by a California Wildfire

1. Document everything you lost — photos, video, receipts, and a written inventory of your home, belongings, and property. Memory fades; documentation holds.
2. Keep every expense receipt — hotels, rentals, meals, replacement essentials, and any cost tied to evacuation or displacement.
3. Save official communications — evacuation orders, emergency alerts, and notices from authorities establish that you were in the affected zone.
4. Preserve evidence of the fire’s origin — news reports, investigation findings, and anything indicating how and where the fire started.
5. Hold off on signing anything from a utility, its insurer, or any representative until you’ve spoken with an attorney.
6. Contact a wildfire attorney — a free case review costs nothing and protects your rights while evidence is still fresh.

California Wildfire Statute of Limitations

In California, you generally have 2 years from the date of the fire to file a personal injury or property damage claim. For wrongful death cases, the 2-year clock generally runs from the date of death. There are important exceptions — for example, claims involving a public entity may carry much shorter deadlines, and certain circumstances can affect when the clock starts. Because waiting reduces your options as evidence is gathered and cases settle, the safest course is to speak with an attorney as soon as possible. If you were affected by any California wildfire, contact us now while your claim is strongest.

Our California Wildfire Experience

The Wagner Law Group’s wildfire work is not theoretical. We have represented real clients in the aftermath of California’s most devastating utility-caused fires — and that hands-on experience informs how we approach every wildfire claim we take.

The Camp Fire and PG&E

The November 2018 Camp Fire in Butte County was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history at the time — burning over 153,000 acres, killing 85 people, and destroying the town of Paradise. PG&E equipment ignited the fire. The Wagner Law Group represented more than 650 families in the Camp Fire litigation against PG&E and recovered over $100 million on their behalf.

The 2025 Eaton Fire — Altadena and Pasadena

The January 2025 Eaton Fire tore through the foothill communities of Altadena and Pasadena, destroying more than 9,000 structures and forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate — one of the most destructive wildfires in California history. The U.S. Department of Justice has filed suit against Southern California Edison, alleging that the utility’s power lines caused the fire. The Wagner Law Group represents Eaton Fire victims in their claims arising from the disaster.

Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome. The $100 million figure reflects the total recovered for our Camp Fire clients as a group; individual recoveries varied based on each client’s losses. Every case depends on its own facts.

Major California Wildfires Caused by Utility Equipment

California has a long and documented history of destructive wildfires linked to investor-owned utility equipment. Some of the most significant include:

• Eaton Fire (January 2025) — Altadena/Pasadena; the U.S. Department of Justice has sued Southern California Edison, alleging its power lines were responsible
• Dixie Fire (July 2021) — Butte and Plumas Counties; one of the largest wildfires in California history, linked to PG&E equipment
• Camp Fire (November 2018) — Butte County; PG&E found liable, $13.5 billion paid to victims
• Woolsey Fire (November 2018) — Los Angeles and Ventura Counties; linked to Southern California Edison equipment
• Thomas Fire (December 2017) — Ventura/Santa Barbara Counties; linked to Southern California Edison

The Wagner Law Group has represented victims of the Camp Fire and the Eaton Fire. The other fires listed above are included as factual context on California’s history of utility-caused wildfires. If you were affected by any California wildfire caused by utility negligence, contact us to discuss your options.

Serving Wildfire Victims Across California

The Wagner Law Group represents wildfire victims throughout California — wherever a utility-caused fire has displaced families and damaged communities. Wildfires don’t respect city or county lines, and neither does your right to recover. The greatest wildfire risk often falls on California’s foothill, mountain, and wildland-urban-interface communities, where utility lines run through dry vegetation and steep terrain. We handle claims for victims across the state, including:

• Los Angeles County foothills — Altadena, Pasadena, La Cañada Flintridge, and the San Gabriel Valley foothill communities
• Northern Los Angeles County — Castaic, Santa Clarita Valley, and the surrounding corridor
• Coastal and Santa Monica Mountains communities — Malibu and surrounding canyons
• Ventura County — Thousand Oaks, Ojai, and the surrounding foothills
• Riverside County and the Inland Empire — including the San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountain communities
• Northern California foothills and Sierra Nevada — Butte and Plumas Counties, including Paradise, Quincy, and the communities affected by the Camp and Dixie Fires
• Wine Country and the North Bay — Sonoma, Napa, and Lake County communities affected by utility-caused fires
• Foothill and mountain communities statewide in the wildland-urban interface where wildfire risk is highest

No matter where in California the fire affected you — a major city, a foothill town, or a remote mountain community — the same state legal protections apply, and we can help. If you’re searching for a wildfire lawyer near you, call (833) 200-7111 for a free, confidential case review, wherever you are in California.

Why Choose The Wagner Law Group as Your California Wildfire Law Firm?

• Proven wildfire results — 650+ families represented in the Camp Fire, over $100 million recovered, and Eaton Fire clients today
• Over $300 million recovered for our clients across our practice
• No fee unless we win — you pay nothing upfront, and nothing at all unless we recover for you
• Over 42 years of experience representing California injury victims against major corporations
• Landmark case results, including a $72.4 million verdict in the Wal-Mart truckers case
• Rated 4.7 stars across 90+ verified Google reviews by clients across California
• AV Preeminent rated — the highest peer rating for legal ability and ethical standards
• Statewide representation — we serve wildfire victims throughout California

If you were affected by any California wildfire caused by utility negligence, call (833) 200-7111 or contact us online for a free, confidential case evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has The Wagner Law Group handled wildfire cases before?

Yes. The Wagner Law Group represented more than 650 families in the Camp Fire litigation against PG&E and recovered over $100 million on their behalf, and the firm represents Eaton Fire clients today. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome; individual recoveries varied based on each client’s losses.

I was affected by a different California wildfire — can you still help?

Yes. While our wildfire representation has historically focused on the Camp Fire and the Eaton Fire, we evaluate claims arising from any California wildfire caused by utility negligence. If a utility’s equipment caused the fire that affected you, contact us for a free case review.

How soon should I contact a wildfire attorney after a fire?

As soon as you’re able. Acting early helps preserve evidence, document your losses while they’re fresh, and protect your rights before filing deadlines approach. The Wagner Law Group evaluates wildfire claims on an ongoing basis as fires occur across California, and consultations are free and confidential.

What is inverse condemnation, and why does it matter for my wildfire claim?

Inverse condemnation is a California legal doctrine that can hold a public utility liable for property damage caused by its equipment even without proof of negligence. For wildfire victims, it means you generally need to show the utility’s equipment caused the fire and damaged your property — not that the company was careless. It is one of the main reasons California utility wildfire cases have produced large recoveries.

Do I qualify for a wildfire injury claim if I was physically hurt?

Possibly. Burns, smoke inhalation, respiratory damage, and injuries sustained during evacuation can all support a personal injury claim against a responsible utility, which may include compensation for medical bills, future care, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A free case review can tell you whether your injuries qualify.

My home didn’t burn, but it has smoke and ash damage — do I have a claim?

Possibly. Smoke, soot, and ash contamination — and the cost of remediation, the loss of use of your home during cleanup, and smoke-related health effects — are potentially recoverable even for properties outside the burn footprint. It’s worth having an attorney evaluate your situation.

Can I file a wildfire lawsuit if I already have homeowner’s insurance?

Yes. You can file an insurance claim AND pursue a lawsuit against the responsible utility company. A wildfire attorney can help maximize your total recovery beyond what your insurance policy covers.

I already received an insurance payout — can I still sue the utility?

In many cases, yes. Insurance and a lawsuit against the at-fault utility are separate avenues, and insurance often falls short of total losses. Accepting a payout does not automatically waive your right to pursue the utility, but speak with an attorney before signing any release, as rules about subrogation and recovery can apply.

Who is typically responsible for California wildfires?

Many of California’s most destructive wildfires have been linked to investor-owned utility equipment — including lines and hardware operated by PG&E, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric. When a utility’s equipment is found to have ignited a fire, the victims in its path may have strong legal claims.

How long do I have to file a wildfire claim in California?

Generally 2 years from the date of the fire for personal injury and property damage claims, and 2 years from the date of death for wrongful death claims. Some circumstances — such as claims involving a public entity — can carry much shorter deadlines. Don’t wait; evidence is strongest early, and deadlines are strict.

What does it cost to hire a California wildfire lawyer?

Nothing upfront. The Wagner Law Group works on a contingency fee basis — you pay no legal fees unless we win your case. Consultations are free and confidential.

Do you handle wildfire cases outside of Fresno?

Yes. The Wagner Law Group represents wildfire victims throughout California, not just in our home region. Wildfire claims are governed by California state law, and we serve clients statewide — including communities in Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside, and Northern California affected by utility-caused fires.

How do I find a wildfire lawyer near me?

For California wildfire claims, what matters most is finding attorneys experienced in California wildfire and utility litigation — not simply the closest office. The Wagner Law Group handles wildfire claims across the state and offers free, confidential consultations by phone, so you can get answers wherever you are in California. Call (833) 200-7111 to start.

What is a wildfire recovery or wildfire claims attorney?

These terms generally refer to an attorney who helps wildfire victims recover compensation for their losses — property damage, displacement, injuries, and more — typically through claims against the utility whose equipment caused the fire. The Wagner Law Group handles every stage of that recovery process on a no-fee-unless-we-win basis.

This page is attorney advertising and is provided for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is formed by reading it or submitting the contact form. The Wagner Law Group is licensed to practice law in the State of California. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome; every case depends on its own facts. Figures describing this firm’s own cases reflect results obtained for our clients as a group; individual recoveries varied based on each client’s losses. Other settlement figures referenced (such as industry-wide or other firms’ totals) reflect publicly reported amounts and are not results obtained by this firm.