CA fires rage as insurance coverage dropped

Wildfires in the Los Angeles area rage on months after insurance companies canceled thousands of policies.  #CAFires #calfire #wildfires

Transcript

00:00As multiple wildfires ravage Southern California, many homeowners have been left without protection

00:05as their insurance policies were cancelled months ago, leaving them vulnerable as their

00:10homes turned to ashes.

00:12In recent years, major insurers like State Farm and Allstate have withdrawn from the

00:17California market, citing increased wildfire risks and rising costs.

00:22More than 160,000 people have been ordered to evacuate as six massive fires continue

00:28to burn across the county, four of them completely uncontained, including the massive Palisades

00:34and Eaton fires.

00:35In Los Angeles alone, more than 1,000 structures have been destroyed and at least five lives

00:41have been lost.

00:43Compounding this crisis, residents have been forced to turn to the state's Fair Plan,

00:48which often comes with higher premiums and less comprehensive protection.

00:53Firefighting efforts have also been severely hampered by a low water supply, and in parts

00:57of Pacific Palisades, hydrants ran dry as demand completely overwhelmed the city system.

01:03The Sunset Fire has now reached the heart of Hollywood, forcing the evacuations of nearby

01:08iconic landmarks like the Dolby Theatre and the Oscar nominations.

01:13Officials have warned that the wildfires could worsen as dry conditions persist.

01:18Meanwhile, firefighters from six states have now joined the battle.

01:22This as President Biden declares the wildfires to be a major disaster.