photo courtesy LA Times
I vividly recall the Angels Crest Station Fire of 2009. For several days, we couldn’t go outside. Thick ash blanketed everything. Each time we walked to the car, it was covered again. No matter how often we wiped it down, more ash kept falling. After the fire passed, the damage became clear. I remember seeing ash floating in our pool and settling across every surface. The smell of smoke lingered. It had even seeped into our attic insulation. We hosed off the yard each day— before the drought. Still, the ash returned overnight, coating everything again.
Eventually, I contacted our insurance carrier, Allstate, and filed a soot and ash claim. We carry a high deductible to keep our premiums lower. Even so, the payout covered what we needed. Thanks to the claim, we were able to professionally clean the pool, the rain gutters, and the house. Most importantly, we cleaned the air ducts. That gave us peace of mind and helped us breathe easier—literally. It was a difficult time, but we took action.
So in the aftermath of the Sand Fire, save receipts for extra cleaning, and remember to contact your insurance carrier to submit your soot and ash claim.
