If you’ve been injured or suffered property damage or smoke damage because of the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires, you could be eligible for compensation.
From Tuesday, January 7, 2025, to Thursday, January 9, 2025, Southern California experienced a truly devastating Santa Ana windstorm which has caused considerable property damage and stirred up horrific wildfires. Ventura County and Los Angeles County are currently the most impacted, but other nearby counties could also experience the hurricane force wind gusts of up to 100 miles per hour. The National Weather Service has urged residents to stay indoors and away from windows and to expect power outages across the region.
Now, the National Weather Service is warning the Santa Ana winds will return with the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires still burning, threatening to stir up even more wildfires.
Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst Wildfires Cause Property Damage and Smoke Damage Across LA
Thousands of California residents have already been forced to evacuate due to the Palisades fire, Eaton fire, and Hurst fire. These wildfires have already resulted in thousands of acres of property damage and smoke damage, burning homes, schools, and businesses.
KTLA is keeping live updates on the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires here.
If you’ve been hurt or the Palisades, Hurst, and Eaton fires have destroyed your property or caused smoke damage, contact us today to demand compensation!
How Dangerous are the Windstorm and Wildfires?
Santa Ana winds are a normal part of life in the colder months in Southern California. Warm, dry winds from Utah and Nevada are blocked by the mountains leading into California except for a few narrow mountain passes. The pressure squeezing through the small passes creates the targeted winds we know as the Santa Ana winds. While we may experience a few downed power lines or trees occasionally, California is mostly unaffected.
However, the Santa Ana windstorms of January 2025 are unlike anything we’ve seen in recent memory. Changes in climate across North America have built up immense pressure in Nevada and Utah, creating the devastating Santa Ana windstorms we experienced January 2025. Additionally, our unusual months-long drought has created the perfect conditions for out of control brush fires to erupt. This windstorm and the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst wildfires are incredibly dangerous and should be taken seriously.
What Kind of Property Damage or Smoke Damage Could I Claim Due to the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst Fires?
These rapidly growing wildfires are being fanned by the Santa Ana windstorm and are engulfing everything in their paths. Residents in the area should follow all mandatory evacuation orders and flee their properties, taking only their loved ones and essentials with them. However, that doesn’t mean your home or property is worthless. If your home or property was damaged by fire or smoke due to the Palisades, Eaton, or Hurst fires, you could be eligible to claim compensation. Residents may experience:
- Burned out homes or destroyed possessions
- Illness, injury, or death for pets or livestock
- Smoke damage throughout your home or possessions, possibly rendering your home uninhabitable
What is Smoke Damage?
Smoke damage may seem to be only a stain and odor that will subside in time, but smoke can cause severe property damage and physical harm to you and your loved ones. Smoke is a byproduct of a chemical reaction, usually a fire, so much of smoke is made of chemicals and corrosive substances that are extremely harmful to your health even after the smoke has stopped. Smoke can also permeate objects like walls, stone, wood, and metal and eat away at the structural integrity of your home or property.
If your home or property suffered severe damage from the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires or smoke, contact our team immediately to begin filing your claim.
What Injuries Could I Receive During Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst Fires?
Southern California residents are at great risk of experiencing injuries during the Santa Ana windstorms, even more so thanks to the Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, and Hurst Fire that have erupted as a result. Residents should be vigilant and remain indoors as much as possible. Possible physical injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injury, broken bones, or becoming pinned from flying or falling debris
- Puncture wounds or abrasions from broken glass
- Electrocution from downed power lines
- Spinal or neck injuries from blown vehicles
- Burn injuries or smoke inhalation from being caught near the Palisades, Eaton, or Hurst Fire
Residents that live near the Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, or Hurst Fire should seek shelter away from the fire as soon as possible to avoid being caught by the rapidly spreading blaze.
What Do I Do if I Need Help After Being Injured?
Stay near friends, family, and neighbors to ensure others are around to assist you or others.
If you are injured and are injured and need help, call 911 immediately. If you’ve been pinned, hit in the head, or experienced a blow to the spine or neck, do not walk or move. Wait for medical professionals to help you move safely to the hospital.
Do not assume you are unharmed if you don’t feel anything strange after being hit by debris getting into a car accident caused by the Santa Ana windstorm. Seek medical attention right away to rule out potential latent injuries that may not manifest for days.
If you’re in a fire zone, stay low to the ground as you escape. Do not linger collecting precious items. Take only yourself and your loved ones out of the area as safely and quickly as possible. Firefighters may be around to help direct you to medical attention and a safe route away. If you do not have an evacuation bag ready, prepare one as soon as possible, even if you haven’t been ordered to evacuate.
If you’ve been injured due to the Palisades, Eaton, or Hurst Fires, contact BD&J as soon as possible to begin filing a claim for compensation for lost wages, medical care, and damaged property.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if I have no home after the Palisades, Eaton, or Hurst fires?
If your home and property have become irreparably damaged due to the wildfires, there are nonprofit organizations that can help you obtain temporary housing immediately. Living with friends, family, or in a hotel may also be an option. When you file a claim for property damage of smoke damage from the Palisades, Eaton, or Hurst fires, BD&J will fight to ensure the costs associated with your temporary housing will be compensated.
How long do windstorms last?
Windstorms are caused by key weather events and conditions. Sometimes, these events pass within minutes or hours in cases of thunderstorms. However, if a windstorm is caused by a long-term weather front, it could last days.
What do I do if my power goes out?
If your power goes out during the Santa Ana windstorm in California, keep your loved ones and pets in a safe location indoors away from windows and use battery operated lights or safely light candles. Consume nonperishable foods as much as possible, as opening the refrigerator could cause food to spoil more quickly. If you’re without power for more than four hours, foods like meat, fish, poultry, and eggs are likely spoiled. Consult the USDA’s rules on food safety in an emergency here.
How long do I have to file a claim?
In California, you have up to 2 years to file a personal injury and property damage claim against a corporation, individual, or other entity. If you’re filing a personal injury claim against a governmental organization, you have up to 6 months. Contact a BD&J personal injury lawyer in California as soon as possible after you’re injured to ensure you’re within the state statute of limitations.
BD&J is Available 24/7 to Help You Get the Care and Compensation You Need
Whether you’re injured by the Palisades, Eaton, or Hurst fires or you’ve suffered major property damage or smoke damage, your pain matters. At BD&J, we make it our mission to be a constant source of compassion and support for our California neighbors when they’ve been hurt or are stuck in an emergency situation. Our team of skilled personal injury attorneys is available to help you 24/7. We will fight for your right to compensation for your damages and injuries. We’ve proudly recovered more than $2 billion* for our clients over our history and aim to support Ventura County and Los Angeles County residents as they face these disasters.
If you’ve been injured or suffered property or smoke damage during the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires, contact us today!
