We are pleased to provide an update on our efforts to open up the Wildfire Fund to victims of the Northern California wildfires of 2015-2018.
Over the last few months, our coalition has been urging the California Earthquake Authority (CEA), which manages the Wildfire Fund, to conduct a durability study to assess the impact of the fund covering the Fire Victims Trust’s $6B shortfall. This durability study is key to securing a legislative solution to AB 1054.
Due to the many letters of support we secured through our Coalition members, phone calls, and direct outreach, the CEA hosted a public hearing where they discussed our request at length.
At this hearing, the CEA heard from Fairness for Fire Victims Director Mike Yates, several coalition members, including former Assemblymember Mike Allen and Santa Rosa City Councilmember Jeff Okrepkie, as well as a number of fire victims who courageously shared their stories.
While the CEA concluded that they do not have the authority to conduct a durability study under current AB 1054 statutes, they did empathize with our situation.
They also noted two actions that could move this forward:
Engage a third party to conduct an independent durability study
Work with the state leaders to find a legislative fix to AB 1054
This is encouraging because, as we mentioned above, this is precisely what our coalition has been undertaking behind the scenes.
We look forward to sharing updates in the coming weeks about a third-party durability study, as well as our path forward in the 2025 legislative session.
In solidarity,
Fairness for Fire Victims