Wildfires cause significant property destruction in California each year, with thousands of acres burned and structures destroyed annually. In 2024, 995,972 acres in California were burned, according to CAL FIRE. If you are in the path of a wildfire, you may suffer thousands of dollars in losses from destroyed landscaping and agriculture in addition to personal property.
As a home, business or landowner, you may be eligible for financial compensation for these losses, but may find it difficult to achieve a fair outcome through insurance negotiations alone. Learn how to fight for the compensation you deserve for landscape and agriculture losses with help from an experienced California wildfire litigation lawyer.
What Qualifies as Landscape Loss in a Wildfire Claim?
Landscape loss in an insurance claim is a category of wildfire damage that refers to harm caused to residential or commercial landscaping. The landscaping of a home or business can contribute to curb appeal and increase the overall value of the property. It also serves functional purposes, such as trees that create shade and purify the air. Landscaping losses include the destruction of both softscape (living) and hardscape (structural) elements, such as:
- Trees or forests
- Plants
- Shrubs
- Grass or ground cover
- Flowers
- Gardens
- Raised garden beds
- Water features
- Decorative fixtures
- Stone walls
- Paths and walkways
- Fencing
- Pergolas
- Gardening sheds or structures
- Patios and decks
An insurance claim for wildfire landscape damage should account for the loss of existing landscaping as well as the cost to recover or replace mature trees, vegetation, sprinkler systems and wildlife habitats. It should also allot compensation for the costs of wildfire debris removal, including the necessary removal of any burned, dead or dying trees. Our Eaton Fire lawyers are fighting for the full property value of victims affected by the 2025 fires and their loss of landscape and agriculture.
What Is Agriculture Loss?
When a California wildfire strikes agricultural land, it can cause millions of dollars in economic losses for owners. In a matter of minutes, thousands of acres of land used for farming and agricultural purposes can suffer catastrophic damage. Agricultural losses can include, but are not limited to:
- Farm animals (livestock and poultry)
- Pastures
- Field crops
- Crop covers
- Fruit trees and orchards
- Vineyards
- Tree cover and root systems
- Bee hives (loss of honey production and pollinators)
- Irrigation systems
- Ponds or fisheries
- Greenhouses
- Barns or sheds
- Agricultural equipment and machinery (e.g., tractors, plows, balers, etc.)
- The potential for future harvests on the land
- Local laborers (due to evacuations)
- Business interruption and lost agricultural revenue
In addition, wildfires tend to burn at a temperature that is high enough to sterilize the soil, removing nutrients that plants need to grow. Recovering these nutrients can take a great deal of time and money. Soil contamination, sterilization and erosion alone could take an agricultural enterprise out of business for good.
How to Seek Fair Compensation for Landscape and Agriculture Wildfire Losses
Environmental damage claims can be difficult to navigate after a California wildfire. Accurately calculating your economic losses will likely take assistance from relevant experts, such as professional arborists. You may need to hire experts who can evaluate the true costs of your unique losses, such as destroyed decades-old trees or grazing land for livestock. To start building your landscape or agricultural loss claim, document environmental damage immediately.
This goes beyond simply taking photos. Before cleanup begins, arrange for services such as soil contamination tests, environmental assessments and tree mortality appraisals from professionals to estimate your losses. Reports and expert opinions can strengthen your legal case by quantifying your actual economic losses, including the long-term impacts to your landscape or farm and realistic restoration costs. Don’t forget to document any lost business income, physical injuries, property damage, and pain and suffering related to the wildfire, as well.
Insurance Gaps in Landscaping Coverage
Wildfire damage claims involving landscape and agriculture losses are unique, as most standard policies impose limits on this type of compensation. Insurance companies typically limit landscaping coverage to small percentages of an overall settlement. This may far undervalue the true costs of your property-related losses. In addition, you may have to deal with discrepancies between the value assigned to your losses by an insurance company and their true market value.
A mature tree that was worth tens of thousands of dollars, for example, could be valued the same as a brand-new shrub by an insurance claims adjuster. It is up to you to recognize these gaps and fight back with help from a wildfire attorney.
Tips for Handling the Wildfire Insurance Claims Process
Wildfire lawsuits provide a way to counteract the issues and challenges often faced by landowners in California when it comes to seeking fair coverage for landscaping and agricultural losses. If an investigation of a wildfire determines that a utility company is responsible, for instance, you may be eligible to pursue a lawsuit against the responsible corporation for actual damages. With a lawsuit, you may be entitled to financial compensation for:
- The actual cash value of your losses (not limited by insurance policy ceilings)
- Agricultural or livestock losses
- Business losses
- Property repairs or rebuilding costs
- Destroyed or damaged personal belongings
- Relocation costs
- Replacement costs for destroyed property
- Physical injuries and medical care
- Pain, suffering and emotional trauma
- The wrongful death of a loved one
- Punitive damages, in rare cases
A wildfire caused by utility company negligence could make you eligible for a financial recovery beyond insurance limits through California’s reverse condemnation laws. Under these rules, consumers can receive wildfire compensation from public utility companies without the burden of proving negligence.
When Should You Hire a Wildfire Attorney?
If a California wildfire leads to damage to your land, landscaping, agricultural property, equipment, crops or animals, you can benefit from hiring an experienced wildfire damage attorney. A lawyer can help you understand and protect your rights after a wildfire, which may include the right to file an insurance claim, wildfire lawsuit and/or disaster relief claim to get the compensation you need.
A lawyer can also help you handle common challenges, such as proving liability and disputing an insurance company’s valuation of your losses. The wildfire attorneys at Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian know how to get real results for victims affected by California wildfires. We work closely with experts such as arborists to determine the economic value of landscaping and agricultural losses for our clients. We are prepared for wildfire litigation, with over 12,000 wildfire clients helped and a well-trained team of attorneys and staff. Contact us today for a free consultation about your wildfire case.