WESTERN NEWS ZONE......

Firefighters and residences in the greater Los Angeles area are in a race against time, as a quick-moving wildfire has almost doubled in size and is threatening 10,000 homes as of Monday afternoon.

Fire officials have ordered mandatory evacuations for residents of the 10,000 homes under threat. The city of Los Angeles today issued a mandatory evacuation order for an area of Sunland-Tujunga bordering the Angeles National Forest from roughly Alpine Way on the north to Haines Canyon Avenue on the east.

According to one fire spokesman, The Station Fire had increased to 85,576 acres as of Monday morning. The blaze is only 5 percent contained while being fueled by dry air and protected by the steep terrain in and around the Angeles National Forest.

Officials are keeping a close eye on the blaze, which is being aided by warm temperatures and low humidity, as it creeps closer to the Mount Wilson Observatory. The facility holds 20 television and radio transmission towers along with fire and police communication equipment.

Tragically, two firefighters died Sunday when their vehicle went down a steep enbankment as they were battling the Station Fire.

Officials identified the dead as Capt. Tedmund Hall, 47, and Spc. Arnaldo Quinones, 35.

"Our hearts are heavy as we are tragically reminded of the sacrifices our firefighters and their families make daily to keep us safe," California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a statement issued Sunday. "This is a devastating day for firefighters everywhere, and Maria and I join all Californians in expressing our gratitude and sadness. Our hearts go out to their loved ones."

Two residents who ignored mandatory Station Fire evacuation orders were severely burned when they decided to wait out the blaze in a hot tub, according to sheriff's officials.


Both were severely burned when flames ripped through their Big Tujunga neighborhood Saturday.


The Station Fire began Wednesday and had destroyed 18 structures by Sunday. The fire also is threatening 500 businesses and 2,000 other structures. The blaze grew over the weekend in an area that has not witnessed a major fire in more than six decades.


Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency Friday as a result of the Station Fire. He has also declared a state of emergency in Monterey County, where one blaze, called the Gloria Fire, has burned approximately 6,500 acres, and another, called the Bryson Fire, has charred more than 3,000 acres.

WESTERN NEWS ZONE......

California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner was joined Wednesday by Shannon Kelly, 21^st Century senior vice president, West Region, to announce a $34 million rate reduction for 21^st Century Auto Insurance Company policyholders in California. This represents an average decrease of 3.4 percent.

As the seventh largest auto insurer in the state, 21^st Century insures more than one million vehicles in California, covering approximately five percent of the auto insurance market.

Under the newly approved reduced rates, California policyholders will save an average of about 3.4 percent, or about $50 per policy per year - a total of $34 million. New rates apply to policies written or renewed after June 21, 2009.

Under the newly approved rate cut, 21^st Century customers in Los Angeles County will save an average of 4.9 percent, or $80 per year, per policy. 21^st Century customers in San Francisco will save an average of $58 per year, and Sacramento policyholders will save an average of $62 each year.

TOP STORIES' NEWS ZONE

*A small but much felt aftershock jolted the Los Angeles region Tuesday, only two days after a magnitude-4.7 earthquake struck late in the weekend. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The magnitude-4.1 temblor hit at 3:49 p.m. and was located 10 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles near the Los Angeles International Airport, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

No damage was reported with Tuesday's aftershock, though it was reportedly felt in the high desert city of Palmdale about 50 miles to the north and in San Diego, some 120 miles to the south.

Moderate Quake Hits Southern California

A moderate earthquake hit Thursday evening at 7:49 p.m. local time in San Bernardino, with shaking noted from Los Angeles 55 miles to the west and south to Orange County.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, with the quake initially being reported as a 4.5-magnitude quake. The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported it at 4.9, then 5.0.

According to the USGS, the quake struck near the San Jacinto fault, which is part of the San Andreas Fault system.

Los Angeles Looks to Pay $13M to Finalize Lawsuits

The city of Los Angeles will reportedly pay out some $13 million to finalize lawsuits from the turbulent 2007 May Day demonstration that injured dozens.

The $13 million reportedly does not include claims filed by some journalists who were also injured.

The L.A. City Council will need to approve the $13 million settlement, and the total could increase due to journalists' claims filed at the state level.

Back on May 1, 2007, members of the Los Angeles Police Department attempted to break up a protest in MacArthur Park, but they were using rubber bullets and batons during a mostly peaceful protest.

As a result of the actions that took place, two commanding officers were reassigned, one ended up resigning, and a number of police officers still face a possible termination over what happened on that day.

In response, the police issued a statement, noting, "Through the administrative process, we trust that each of the officers involved will be given a fair review that will evaluate their actions in the context of what they had been ordered to do, the tools and training they were given to accomplish those tasks, and the conditions under which they were operating."

President Declares Federal Aid for Fire Victims

The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that a major disaster exists in the state of California and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts in the area struck by wildfires beginning on Nov. 13, and continuing.

FEMA Administrator David Paulison said federal funding is available to affected individuals in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and Santa Barbara counties.

Assistance will include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding also is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, for Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and Santa Barbara Counties.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Paulison named Mark Neveau as the federal coordinating officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

Neveau said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and additional counties may be designated for assistance after the assessments are fully completed.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance by registering online at http://www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (local time).

L.A. Woman Wanted for Fraud Nabbed in Mexico

Authorities in Mexico are holding a Los Angeles woman who left the U.S. with her children following charges of bigamy and insurance fraud.

Damaris Amesquita was taken into custody by a bail bonds agent in Mexicali after she fled earlier this year. Authorities reported that Amesquita's two daughters, 9 and 11, and a 2-year-old boy she had falsely claimed was her biological son were found unharmed.

Authorities said that Amesquita, who was formerly employed as a clerk with the Los Angeles County Probation Department, fraudulently collected death benefits of more than $120,000 for her husband. She also reportedly falsely obtained health benefits for the 2-year-old by claiming him as her son. Prosecutors say her husband still lives in Guatemala.

Wildfires Hit Los Angeles, San Diego Areas

Several wildfires continue to burn around the Los Angeles and San Diego areas as of Tuesday afternoon.

See updates at: dailyinsurer.blogspot.com/2008/10/update-calif-wildfires-continue-to.html.

See video shot from Associated Press at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PL1cZsImXA

UPDATE: Calif. Wildfires Continue to Blaze

Several wildfires continue to burn in Southern California Tuesday morning, fueled by Santa Ana winds and dry brush.

To date:

• Two major fires -- the Marek and Sesnon blazes -- have burned more than 15,000 acres in the hills and mountains north of Los Angeles.

• At Camp Pendleton, near Oceanside, a fire has burned more than 3,000 acres and forced the evacuation of Marines from their barracks and other personnel from the base.

• A fast-moving fire east of San Diego that started early Tuesday led to the evacuation of 300 homes in the Campo area, near the Mexican border.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles and Ventura counties on Monday, and local officials are urging President Bush to issue a federal disaster declaration.

The Marek fire, burning at the northeastern end of the valley, had charred nearly 5,000 acres in the Angeles National Forest, according to officials.

That fire destroyed 39 homes, including some 30 mobile homes, and five outbuildings in the Lopez Canyon area.

In October of 2007, fires fueled by Santa Anas destroyed 2,196 homes and burned a combined 800 square miles in Southern California.

UPDATE: Calif. Wildfires Kill One; Still Burning

Authorities reported Monday that a pair of Los Angeles area wildfires that are being driven by strong Santa Ana winds have killed a man, while destroying several dozen mobile homes.

The fires continued to threaten neighborhood outside of downtown Los Angeles, along with forcing evacuations.

Firefighters continued to battle a 3,700-acre blaze in the San Fernando Valley's northeastern corner as a new blaze formed at midmorning a few miles to the west in mountains above the Porter Ranch area.

The fatality reportedly occurred at the first fire. The victim was a man who appeared to be a transient living in a makeshift shelter, according to authorities.

A number of "suspicious" fires involving a few acres were reported Monday at various areas in the county, some near the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway, according to authorities. Officials urged people to call authorities if they witness anything suspicious.

Farmers Responds to Los Angeles Area Fire

Farmers Insurance Group of Companies agents and claims teams are moving into the Lakeview Terrace fire areas in Los Angeles to begin helping customers who may have been evacuated or have suffered damage to their homes.

"We ask that all of our customers and anyone in the path of these fires to evacuate and make sure they are out of the fire’s path,” Bill Matlock, Farmers state executive director asks. “Once you have moved out into a safe evacuation center or other location, please call the Farmers hotline at:

1-800-HelpPoint (1-800-435-7764) for immediate assistance.

Foremost Insurance customers should file their claim by calling: 1-800-527-3907.

“We will reach our customers as quickly as possible to give them the help that they need, but ask everyone to please listen to fire officials and media to get to a safe area and then call Farmers,” Matlock said.

The fire started on Sunday and led to the evacuation of hundreds of homes over the weekend. The blaze jumped a fireline early Monday in an area of Lopez Canyon in the eastern San Fernando Valley that had already been evacuated, according to authorities.

The blaze 20 miles north of downtown Los Angeles forced the evacuation of approximately 1,200 people from their homes. All remained out of their homes Monday morning.

L.A. Metrolink Killer Gets Life in Jail

Saying he had shown “no remorse” for killing 11 people who perished in a fiery Metrolink crash 3-1/2 years ago, a Los Angeles judge has imposed 11 terms of life without parole on Juan Manuel Alvarez.

“I don’t believe for a moment that you meant to kill yourself,” Superior Court Judge William Pounders told the 29-year-old defendant. “You’ve shown no remorse.”

Besides the 11 consecutive life-without-parole terms, the judge ordered Alvarez to pay $92,019 to the victim’s restitution fund. He additionally imposed a two-year prison term for an arson conviction.

A jury on June 26 convicted Alvarez of 11 counts of first-degree murder and found true the special circumstance of multiple murders. He also was convicted of one count of arson. The same jury on July 15 rejected the prosecution request for the death penalty and instead recommended the defendant be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

Six family members of victims spoke before Judge Pounders imposed sentence. The judge told the defendant, wearing an orange jail jumpsuit and sporting a newly shaved head, that he did not believe Alvarez cares about the people whose lives were destroyed in different ways by the injuries they suffered in the pre-dawn crash on Jan. 26, 2005.

Besides the 11 deaths, another nearly 200 people were injured in the crash near Chevy Chase Drive. The train was filled with early morning commuters bound for downtown Los Angeles. It was the worst Metrolink disaster since the trains started running in 1992.

Alvarez drove a Jeep Cherokee onto the track and left it there after dousing the SUV with gasoline. He ran away, but was tracked down on the basis of various identification cards found at the scene. Arrested at a friend’s home in nearby AtwaterVillage, Alvarez has remained in custody without bail.

Killed in the crash were James Tutino, 47, a Sheriff’s deputy from Simi Valley; Scott McKeoun, 42, of Moorpark; Manuel Alcala, 51, of West Hills; Thomas Ormiston, 58, the train’s conductor from Northridge; Leonard Romero, 53, of Rancho Cucamonga; Henry Kilinski, 39, of Orange; Alfonso Caballero, 62, of Winnetka; Julie Bennett, 44, of Simi Valley; Don Wiley, 58, of Simi Valley; Elizabeth Hill, 65; and William Parent, 53, of Simi Valley. Many of the dead worked for various governmental agencies in and around Los Angeles.

Commissioner Urges Residents to Prep for Disasters

California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner Tuesday visited a Malibu residence to encourage Southern California homeowners to protect their assets in the event of a disaster.

Poizner advised all local homeowners to proactively prepare for fires and other potential disasters by conducting a home inventory and updating their insurance policies.

Out of control wildfires swept through Southern California last October, ravaging nearly 2,000 homes and causing $2 billion in damages, including $130 million in damages and nearly 100 destroyed homes in Los Angeles alone.

This year's wildfire season is already under way, months ahead of schedule. Wildfires have charred nearly one million acres and destroyed 158 homes throughout the state this year, and the worst may still be ahead. Poizner urges all homeowners to prepare themselves, and conduct a home inventory to maintain detailed records of their belongings.

Poizner also announced today that the Department of Insurance has recovered more than $9 million for 2007 wildfire survivors who notified CDI of a problem obtaining claims payments from their insurance companies. The Department of Insurance has received 359 complaints from consumers relating to the 2007 wildfires. Of those complaints, 83 involved underinsurance. The Department of Insurance has recovered $3.4 million for underinsurance complaints. Insurers have paid out $1.8 billion in claims for the 2007 wildfires, which caused more than $2 billion in damages.

"Insurance companies have done a great job overall in paying claims to wildfire survivors on time, and in full," said Poizner. "And when a small portion of claims were not paid out fully or on time, the Department of Insurance continues to make sure that homeowners receive every penny they deserve. If any fire survivors have questions or would like to file a complaint, I urge them to contact the Department of Insurance."

Californians Get Wakeup Call with 5.4 Quake

Only 12 percent of California homeowners currently own earthquake insurance policies, potentially leaving millions of Californians financially unprotected in the event of a catastrophic quake.

“Historically, the longer California goes between major quakes, the more homeowners drop their earthquake coverage,” said Candysse Miller, executive director of the Insurance Information Network of California. “Without a financial recovery plan, homeowners should expect to be hit by financial aftershocks in the event of a major quake.”

Though Tuesday’s Chino Hills temblor caused only minor damage, it was the first sizable quake to strike a Southern California metropolitan area since the 1994 Northridge earthquake. At the time of the Northridge quake, nearly 30 percent of California homeowners purchased earthquake coverage.

IINC research has indicated that Californians may errantly believe that their homeowner and renters’ insurance cover earthquake damage. Past surveys by IINC revealed that far more Californians believed they had insurance for earthquake and flood damages than actually purchased the policies. Like flood insurance, however, earthquake coverage is purchased separately from standard homeowner and renters’ policies.

In 2006, an IINC poll found that 31 percent of Californians believed they had earthquake insurance, when sales trends indicated that fewer than 13 percent of California homeowners had earthquake coverage. Today, roughly 88 percent of California homeowners reject earthquake coverage.

The 2006 IINC poll also found that less than half of Californians considered themselves prepared for an earthquake.

“Financial preparedness is a key and often overlooked part of disaster readiness,” Miller said. “It may sound like a chore, but understanding your insurance coverage is a critical step in protecting your home and assets.”

IINC offers a number of free Web-based tools to help consumers track and evaluate their insurance and finances, including software to create a home inventory, track financial goals and create a wallet-sized insurance information card.

Calif. Earthquake Authority Uses Response Plan

The CEA’s emergency response plan for policyholders has been implemented and staff members mobilized immediately upon notification of today’s 5.4 earthquake. Damages were minor, according to reports available within two hours of the event. The quake struck some 29 miles east-southeast of downtown Los Angeles

“We will be working closely with our participating insurance companies to promptly process any claims under CEA policies,” said CEA CEO Glenn Pomeroy. “We are fully prepared and funded to cover all eligible claims.”

CEA policyholders who experienced or suspect damage should contact their residential or renters insurance agents or companies to file claims. A list of toll-free telephone numbers for insurance companies that sell and service CEA insurance is available at www.EarthquakeAuthority.com.

Of the approximately 12 percent of households statewide that have earthquake insurance, CEA provides about 70 percent of those policies. About 250,000 CEA policyholders – nearly one-third of CEA’s total 770,000 policyholders – live in the greater Los Angeles area and may have been affected by today’s earthquake.

UPDATE: 5.4 Earthquake Hits Southern California

An earthquake recorded at 5.4 magnitude shook Southern California this morning, startling residents from Los Angeles to San Diego.

There were no reports of injuries or immediate damages, although several buildings in Los Angeles reportedly swayed for a few seconds.

Preliminary reports from the U.S. Geological Survey said the quake, which hit at 11:42 a.m., was centered 29 miles east-southeast of downtown Los Angeles near Chino Hills in San Bernardino County.

Calif. Doc Charged in Accident Injuring Cyclists

A former ER physician who allegedly stopped his car in front of two cyclists, causing one rider to crash through the rear window, was charged with felony reckless driving, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office announced.

Christopher Thomas Thompson, 59 (dob 7-11-49), has been charged with two felony counts each of reckless driving causing injury, battery with serious bodily injury and the special allegation of causing great bodily injury, said Deputy Dist. Atty. John Lynch, head deputy of the Airport Branch.

On the Fourth of July, Thompson allegedly slammed on the brakes of his Infiniti sedan in front of two cyclists riding on Mandeville Canyon Road. Police said the impact propelled one cyclist through the car window, causing the rider to suffer broken teeth, cuts on his face and a broken nose that was nearly severed off. The second cyclist crashed to the pavement and suffered a shoulder separation that would require surgery, authorities said.

Police arrested Thompson, who lives on Mandeville Canyon Road and is an owner of a medical documentation company in Woodland Hills. He was released on $30,000 bail.

Thompson is scheduled to appear at LAX Superior Court, Dept. 144, on Aug. 1 for arraignment in case SA068297. If convicted, he faces up to seven years, eight months in state prison.

Zurich Expands with Los Angeles Office

Zurich announced that its North American commercial business divisions have opened a new office in downtown Los Angeles at 700 South Flower Street.

William Blake, regional executive for Zurich’s Southwest Region, said the decision to open an additional regional office in downtown Los Angeles was driven by the company’s ongoing commitment to being highly accessible to agents and brokers and ultimately, to be able to better deliver to our customers more effectively.

"This office will increase our market profile and enable our staff to spend more time with agents, brokers and our customers,” Blake said. “Our new downtown Los Angeles office – which operates in addition to our Glendale, California, location – increases our visibility and ability to be more customer centric in this key major metropolitan area.”

Added Zurich’s head of field operations Bob Rheel, “This exemplifies our decision-making process to position ourselves with an emphasis on being market-facing wherever our products and services are needed. Our goal is that the companies we do business with always feel we value and respect their needs. If that means putting our people closer to where they operate, we are committed to serving our industry in the manner that best suits our distributors and customers.”

Los Angeles Agent Charged in Fraud Caper

California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced that Los Angeles insurance broker Warren Leon Johnson, 74, of Los Angeles has been charged with grand theft.

On July 12, 2007, Johnson allegedly accepted a $573.80 check from a fraud victim for the purpose of providing an auto insurance policy. A California Department of Insurance investigation revealed that the auto insurance company through which Johnson purportedly provided the victim coverage had not received any payment on behalf of the victim. The investigation revealed that instead of remitting the payment, Johnson allegedly pocketed the victim's money.

Johnson is ordered to appear for an arraignment on July 9, 2008 in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

UPDATE: Universal Studios Blaze Damages Structures

An early morning blaze on a back lot of Universal Studios in Los Angeles has damaged several structures, with more than 100 firefighters battling the blaze.

Some reports say there was an explosion in an adjacent amusement park, but that has not been confirmed. The fire started shortly before 5 a.m. local time.

A couple of "prop" buildings were reportedly damaged in the blaze.

There were no reports of any injuries to firefighters at this time.