The Lidia Fire is the latest wildfire to scorch Los Angeles County, leaving devastation and unanswered questions in its wake.
If corporate negligence sparked this disaster, you have the right to do more than pick up the pieces—you have the right to fight back.
The Bernheim Law Firm holds utility companies and other corporations accountable when their failures cause fires like this. We’ve helped countless Californians recover not just what they lost, but what they deserve.
Rebuilding starts with one phone call. Dial (310) 975-4728 today to speak with our Lidia fire lawyer and find out how we can help.
Why Choose Our Lidia Fire Lawyers?
Fighting corporations isn’t a level playing field. They have teams of lawyers, endless resources, and strategies designed to minimize how much they pay.
That’s where we come in. We have been doing this for decades, and we know how to flip the script.
When wildfire victims come to us, they get advocates who have recovered over $425 million in settlements and verdicts. We’ve taken on some of the largest utility companies in California, securing life-changing compensation for people who thought they had no options.
For cases like the Lidia Fire, if corporate negligence played a role, this track record speaks volumes.
Our office, located in Altadena at 752 Millard Canyon Road, sits just minutes from Pasadena and easily accessible from the 210 Freeway.
We’re local, and we know California’s unique challenges when it comes to wildfires. From our location, we can quickly reach wildfire-prone areas to assess damages, gather evidence, and meet with clients face-to-face.
But what truly sets us apart? It’s not just our results—it’s how we get them. Our team approaches every case like it’s personal, investigating every detail to uncover what went wrong and who should pay.
That’s why we’ve earned awards like the California Lawyer of the Year and recognition as finalists for the National Trial Lawyer of the Year. These aren’t flashy trophies—they’re reminders of what happens when you don’t back down from a fight.
We operate on a contingency fee basis, which means you won’t owe us a dime unless we win. For our clients, this creates a partnership built on shared goals: holding negligent corporations accountable and securing justice for the people affected.
How Much is My Case Worth?
Recovering from wildfire damage goes far beyond replacing what’s been lost. The true cost of a disaster like the Lidia Fire ripples through every part of life—your home, your livelihood, your peace of mind.
Factors That Affect Compensation
Certain factors influence how much a case may recover:

- Property Damage:
- The most obvious losses come from destroyed or damaged homes, land, and personal belongings. Compensation includes rebuilding costs, temporary housing expenses, and replacing possessions.
- California Civil Code § 3333 ensures plaintiffs can recover damages tied to property harm caused by negligence.
- Business Losses:
- Wildfires can grind small businesses to a halt. Whether a vineyard loses its harvest or a rehab center shuts down, these interruptions result in lost revenue and long-term financial harm.
- Compensation covers income losses, operational expenses during downtime, and repairs to commercial property.
- Emotional Distress:
- Disasters leave psychological scars that don’t heal easily. Evacuations, displacement, and the fear of losing everything take a mental toll. California law allows recovery for emotional damages when negligence causes harm.
- Environmental Impact on Property Value:
- Even after rebuilding, properties near wildfire zones may lose market value due to stigma and increased fire risk. Claims account for diminished property values resulting from the disaster.
Why Insurance Isn’t Enough?
Insurance companies promise to protect policyholders, but they often fall short after a disaster. Policies may exclude certain types of damages, undervalue claims, or impose limits that leave victims with out-of-pocket expenses.
Legal action ensures you pursue compensation beyond what insurance provides. For example:
- Utility companies like PG&E, historically linked to numerous wildfires, have faced lawsuits forcing them to pay damages well beyond policy limits.
The Lidia Fire: A Local Perspective
The Lidia Fire erupted on January 8, 2025, scorching over 394 acres in Los Angeles County. Its flames, fueled by dry conditions and relentless winds, forced evacuations, destroyed homes, and left countless residents questioning how such devastation could happen yet again.
California’s wildfire season now stretches year-round, turning what once were seasonal disasters into an ever-present threat.
Los Angeles County has long been on the frontlines of wildfire destruction. In the last decade alone, California has experienced an alarming increase in fire frequency and intensity.
Climate change plays a role, but corporate negligence consistently amplifies the destruction. Investigations into fires like the Lidia Fire often reveal poorly maintained infrastructure or ignored safety standards by utility companies, echoing the failures behind past disasters like the Camp Fire or the Woolsey Fire.
California’s Troubling Wildfire Trends

- Since 1970, the state has added 78 more annual fire days due to hotter temperatures and prolonged droughts.
- Between 2017 and 2021, wildfires in California caused $80 billion in damages, a figure projected to rise as fires become larger and harder to control.
- Utility companies, particularly PG&E, have been directly linked to over 1,500 fires in the last decade, including some of the most devastating incidents in the state’s history.
The Bigger Picture in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County’s population density makes fires like the Lidia Fire even more destructive. Urban sprawl pushes communities closer to wildfire-prone areas, while aging infrastructure increases the risk of accidents.
Local officials have identified utility equipment failures as a major contributor to wildfires in Southern California, often caused by downed power lines or transformers sparking dry vegetation.
Navigating Wildfire Litigation
Once the smoke clears, wildfire victims face a maze of legal and bureaucratic hurdles.
Legal Concepts That Shape Wildfire Cases
Several key legal principles guide wildfire litigation in California.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Inverse Condemnation:
- California law, under the principle of inverse condemnation, allows property owners to hold utility companies strictly liable for damages caused by their equipment.
- Whether negligence exists or not, if a utility’s infrastructure sparked a fire, they may owe compensation. For example, California courts applied this doctrine in landmark cases against PG&E following the Camp Fire.
- Negligence and Duty of Care:
- While inverse condemnation establishes liability without proving fault, negligence lawsuits require showing that a utility or corporation failed to meet its duty of care.
- Negligence includes poorly maintained power lines, delayed inspections, or ignoring high fire-risk conditions.
- Under California Civil Code § 1714, you can hold entities that harm you financially accountable if they fail to exercise ordinary care.
- Statute of Limitations:
- California’s statute of limitations for wildfire-related property damage claims is generally two years from the date of the fire. Waiting too long risks losing the right to pursue legal action.
- Exceptions or variations might apply in cases involving public entities or claims requiring administrative filings.
The Role of Fire Investigators in Wildfire Claims
Every wildfire starts with a spark. Maybe it’s a frayed power line whipping in the wind or an overloaded transformer frying in the summer heat. Fire investigators are the ones who dig through the destruction to uncover the truth.
These investigators work like detectives for disasters, piecing together how and where the fire began. Their findings become the backbone of wildfire lawsuits, especially when negligence by utility companies is involved.
Here’s what they do:

- Trace Burn Patterns:
- Investigators study how flames moved and where they started to pinpoint the ignition site.
- Analyze Damaged Equipment:
- From charred power lines to exploded transformers, they identify failures that sparked the fire.
- Collect and Preserve Evidence:
- Photos, debris samples, and site reports become critical tools for proving negligence.
Their work doesn’t stop at finding the cause—it connects the dots between corporate shortcuts and the destruction they leave behind.
Challenges Fire Investigators Face
- Tampering or Cleanup Efforts:
- Corporations sometimes “clean up” equipment after a fire, making it harder to gather evidence.
- Complex Fire Zones:
- High winds, multiple ignition points, and overlapping burn areas can make investigations tricky.
That’s why we act fast. At The Bernheim Law Firm, we work with top fire investigators to preserve evidence and build ironclad cases. When negligent corporations try to hide their mistakes, we make sure the truth comes to light.
Challenges You Face Without Legal Support
Utility companies and insurers don’t sit back quietly when wildfire claims arise. They act quickly, building defenses and limiting payouts.
Here’s how:
- Lowball Offers:
- Corporations push compensation portals to funnel victims into accepting minimal payments, bypassing the legal process that could yield greater recoveries.
- These portals appear helpful but include language that waives further claims, leaving victims without recourse.
- Complex Claims Processes:
- Filing a claim against a utility company involves mountains of paperwork, evidence requirements, and legal deadlines. Missing a single step could derail your case.
- Delaying Tactics:
- Utility companies often prolong legal battles, hoping victims will settle for less out of frustration or financial desperation.
What to Do After a Wildfire?
The chaos of a wildfire doesn’t end when the flames die down. You’re left with ash, rubble, and the daunting task of rebuilding your life. But what you do next can make or break your claim for compensation.
Document Everything

The first thing you should do is gather evidence. Wildfire claims rely heavily on proof of damages, and you’re the best person to document the impact on your property and life.
- Photograph the Damage:
- Take clear, detailed photos of your home, belongings, and surrounding property. Capture every angle—what’s gone, what’s charred, and what’s still standing.
- List Your Losses:
- Create an inventory of everything destroyed or damaged, from appliances to heirlooms. Attach receipts, warranties, or appraisals wherever possible. If you can’t find receipts, write down estimated costs or replacement values.
- Keep Records of Expenses:
- Save receipts for hotel stays, meals, transportation, and other evacuation-related costs. California law allows recovery for temporary housing and relocation expenses as part of property damage claims.
Avoid Quick Settlements
Recall that corporations and insurers often rush to offer victims settlement packages right after a fire. They frame these offers as immediate relief, but they come with strings attached—signing away your rights to pursue further compensation.
Instead of signing the first offer you receive, consult legal counsel. Wildfire losses extend far beyond what a rushed settlement covers, and once you accept, you can’t go back.
Preserve Evidence of Negligence
Utility companies and other corporations rarely admit fault outright. That’s why any evidence you can collect about the fire’s origin or contributing factors becomes invaluable.
- Take Notes:
- Write down details like power outages, equipment failures, or any unusual activity you observed before or during the fire. Even the smallest detail could become a piece of the larger puzzle.
- Connect with Witnesses:
- If neighbors or bystanders noticed sparks, downed power lines, or other hazards, document their accounts.
Contact Us

Your claim won’t just involve presenting losses—it will involve proving liability and navigating the legal system.
California’s wildfire laws, such as the Public Utilities Code § 451, require utilities to maintain safe, reliable systems. If they fail to do so, they could owe you damages, but proving that failure takes the right legal assistance.
Early legal intervention allows us to preserve evidence, meet legal deadlines, and counter the tactics corporations use to avoid responsibility. Waiting too long risks losing the chance to hold negligent parties accountable.
Rebuild Stronger with The Bernheim Law Firm
Wildfires destroy more than property—they take stability, peace, and years of hard work. But you don’t have to accept what’s left. If negligence caused the Lidia Fire to upend your life, hold the responsible parties accountable and take back control of your future. Call The Bernheim Law Firm today at (310) 975-4728 for a free consultation. Let our California wildfire attorney fight for the compensation you deserve.