California Regulator Settles Fire Claims With Insurer

California’s Insurance Commissioner says an agreement has been reached with an insurer to stop the enforcement actions his department brought for claims related to a 2008 fire in northern Los Angeles County that destroyed 489 homes.

Dave Jones said Tuesday New Hampshire Insurance Company and York Services Group, Inc. have agreed to pay a $285,000 settlement to the state.

Of the residences destroyed, 480 were mobile homes in the Oakridge Mobile Home Park.

About 370 of those mobile homes were insured by policies from the New Hampshire Insurance Company, and policyholders complained that they were in dispute with the insurer.

Jones says in 2009 his department secured additional payouts for fire insurance policyholders that resulted in about $11 million in payments to Sylmar fire victims.