Eaton Fire Property and Smoke Damage Claims

Updated October 29, 2026

The Eaton Fire began on January 7, 2025, in the Altadena and Pasadena area. In August 2026, Cal Fire attributed its ignition to electrical arcing on an out-of-service Southern California Edison (SCE) transmission tower.

Lawsuits against SCE are coordinated in Los Angeles County Superior Court, with the first bellwether trial set for January 2027.

Who May Have a Claim

• Homeowners whose homes were destroyed or damaged
• Owners and occupants of homes that did not burn but had smoke, soot or ash damage (often undervalued)
• Renters, for personal property and displacement costs
• Landlords, for damage to rental property and lost rent
• Businesses, for property damage and lost income

What Property Owners Can Recover

• Repair or rebuild costs, or the loss in value
• Smoke and ash remediation and testing
• Trees and landscaping
• Contents
• Lost rent and business income
• Losses insurance did not cover

Deadlines

• Property damage claims: California’s general limit is three years, which for the Eaton Fire can run as early as January 7, 2028.
• SCE’s voluntary compensation program accepts claims through November 30, 2026. Accepting a program offer generally ends your claims against SCE, so understand what you are giving up before you sign.

What to Keep

• Photos and video of the damage
• Remediation and testing reports
• Repair estimates and receipts
• Your insurance claim file and payment records
• Records of displacement costs

Frequently Asked Questions

My house did not burn but smelled of smoke for months. Do I have a claim?

Possibly. Smoke and ash damage is a recoverable property loss, and it is often underpaid.

I already filed with my insurance. Does that matter?

You can still pursue losses insurance did not cover. Your insurer may separately seek repayment from SCE.

Should I accept SCE’s program offer?

That depends on your losses and the offer. Accepting generally releases your claims against SCE, so get a review first.