Investigation Exposes Bias in State Task Force as Insurer-Aligned Experts Undermine Toxic Smoke Findings

A San Francisco Chronicle investigation found that even though surviving homes in the Altadena and Pasadena area were impacted by the January Fires, containing dangerous levels of toxic chemicals, insurance companies minimize the damage, resist testing, and push residents to return long before their homes are safe, often by contracting specific industrial hygienist firms to dispute the independent reports obtained by homeowners. Those same firms — Safeguard, HRA, and FACS — now serve as technical experts on the state’s Smoke Claims & Remediation Task Force, assembled by the Department of Insurance. These companies repeatedly challenge independent contamination findings, rely on less-sensitive testing methods for asbestos, and recommend inadequate cleanup based on sight, smell, or even “sniff tests,” despite scientific evidence showing that urban wildfire smoke embeds hazardous particles deep into buildings and belongings that are often odorless, yet remain hazardous according to researchers. As a result, families across Altadena and Pacific Palisades remain displaced nearly a year later, facing unsafe homes, denied or underpaid claims, and a system that critics say prioritizes insurer cost savings over public health. EFRU is deeply grateful to the brave residents who spoke publicly in this article and helped expose the truth about what survivors are facing. Read the article here.