In the Palisades fire, we saw just how critical home fire insurance has become, and how it is the insurer of last resort for a growing number of Californians, as the big insurance companies stop writing new policies and refuse to renew existing ones. The problem is, some of those insured, when they suffer a loss, find out that FAIR does not necessarily cover what they thought it does, and that’s led to a growing number of lawsuits against the plan. There was a large class action filed last summer by an Oakland attorney who specializes in these cases, on behalf of thousands of wildfire victims from around the state. Now that same lawyer is representing a couple from the Chico area who are also suing, because they say their home is uninhabitable, ruined by toxic smoke and fumes even though it survived the Park Fire and did not burn down. FAIR says the home is fine and refuses to cover the damage.

For more, KCBS Radio news anchor Steve Scott spoke with KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern.