The January 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles revealed persistent challenges in insurance claims handling, coverage availability, and regulatory oversight, according to homeowners, advocacy groups, insurers, and government officials.

Claims Handling After Total Losses

Some wildfire survivors reported significant delays after filing claims, even in cases of total loss. While initial payments for temporary living expenses were issued promptly, subsequent stages of the claims process slowed.

Policyholders described being required to negotiate itemized valuations for personal property rather than receiving full policy limits. Claims were reassigned to multiple adjusters, requiring repeated documentation and restarting negotiations. Disputes over property valuations and rebuilding estimates were common, with some rebuilding funds held in escrow pending settlement and not accounting for architectural or permitting costs.

Broader Patterns Documented

These experiences align with findings from the Department of Angels, a nonprofit formed after the fires. Nearly eight in 10 surveyed homeowners reported obstacles such as multiple adjusters, low estimates, disputes over property inventories, and poor communication. Homeowners with partial damage reported greater frustration than those with total losses.

Complaints documented by advocacy groups and local activists have focused largely on State Farm and California’s Fair Plan, the state’s insurer of last resort.

Insurer Response and Market Conditions

State Farm said it has paid more than $5 billion on approximately 13,500 wildfire-related claims and expects total payouts to reach between $6 billion and $7 billion. The company cited the complexity of disaster claims and stated it remains committed to addressing customer concerns.

Insurers have argued that climate-driven catastrophe losses require higher premiums. In 2023, several carriers stopped issuing new homeowner policies in fire-prone areas of California, citing a misalignment between price and risk. Although regulators approved rate increases, policy cancellations continued.

A New York Times investigation found that insurer requirements to continue writing policies in “distressed” areas were met through broad geographic definitions that did not necessarily include high-risk fire zones.

Profitability and Investment Income

Despite claims disputes, the U.S. insurance industry reported $169 billion in profits last year and is projected to post another strong year in 2025. Much of this income came from investment returns rather than underwriting performance.

Industry data show underwriting losses in nine of the last 15 years, while overall profitability remained positive due to investment income.

Regulatory and Enforcement Scrutiny

Consumer advocates have criticized the California Department of Insurance for failing to enforce existing laws following the wildfires. Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara previously acknowledged that his department had been pressured by the industry on climate-related accommodations, including rate increases.

At the local level, Los Angeles County launched an investigation into State Farm’s compliance with state insurance laws. The county demanded documentation related to wildfire claims handling and warned of potential fines. Advocates reported that some delayed claims advanced after the investigation was announced.

Smoke Damage and Climate Loss Trends

Advocates also reported concerns about insurer handling of smoke-damaged properties, including limited testing for toxins. In prior years, California’s Fair Plan used a policy declaring homes safe if smoke damage was not visible or detectable, a practice later ruled illegal.

According to Aon, global insured losses from natural catastrophes reached $145 billion last year, exceeding the 21st-century average by 54 percent. In the first half of 2025 alone, losses surpassed $100 billion. Industry data indicate wildfires account for about 5% of catastrophic claims, compared with 12% for hurricanes and 40% for tornadoes and other convective storms.

Despite market commentary suggesting a pullback from U.S. assets, foreign investment in U.S. stocks and bonds increased in 2025. As Scott Wren notes in Sell America?, a January 28, 2026 Market Commentary from Wells Fargo Investment Institute, data from the U.S. Treasury show that foreign investors purchased a net $1.6 trillion in U.S. securities during the year. That total marked a record high, with nearly half of the inflows directed toward equities.

At the same time, auctions of U.S. Treasury debt continued to see consistent demand from foreign buyers. These inflows coincided with a series of all-time highs across major U.S. equity benchmarks, including the S&P 500 Index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Economic Performance Supported Investor Confidence

According to the report, the relative strength of the U.S. economy played a central role in sustaining foreign investment. The American economy outperformed many developed market peers, supported by resilient consumer spending and historically low unemployment.

Consumer activity accounts for nearly 70% of the U.S. gross domestic product, and spending levels exceeded expectations during the year. In addition, capital expenditures tied to artificial intelligence remained strong. Wells Fargo Investment Institute expects U.S. economic growth of 2.4% for the current year.

In contrast, the commentary notes that China experienced a structural economic slowdown driven by weaker consumer demand. While growth rates in Europe and Japan improved, they remained behind the U.S. pace.

Market Size and Liquidity Differentiated the U.S.

The report also highlights the scale and liquidity of U.S. financial markets as a key factor attracting global capital. The United States maintains the world’s largest market for marketable Treasury and corporate debt. Although the European Union and China rank second and third, their combined markets are smaller than the U.S. market.

According to the commentary, this depth allows U.S. markets to absorb large capital inflows more efficiently. Smaller markets, by comparison, can become overwhelmed more quickly, which may drive valuations to extremes.

Corporate Earnings and Innovation Remained a Draw

Corporate performance continued to support investor interest. The United States remains home to most of the world’s largest capitalization companies, particularly in sectors such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and defense.

The S&P 500 Index recorded three consecutive years of record earnings, and the report expects a fourth consecutive year in 2026. The commentary also cites enhanced corporate and consumer tax benefits, along with deregulation, as factors expected to support earnings performance during the year.

Structural Factors Continued to Attract Global Capital

Wells Fargo Investment Institute attributes ongoing foreign investment to several long-standing characteristics of the U.S. market. These include deep and liquid financial markets, corporate innovation, transparency, and the rule of law.

The report emphasizes that forecasts and projections are not guaranteed and remain subject to change. It also reiterates that all asset classes carry risk, including market volatility for equities and interest rate and credit risks for bonds.

ESPN will expand its coverage of the Farmers Insurance Open as part of its 2026 PGA TOUR Season programming, with early-round broadcasts airing on its primary linear channel beginning Thursday, Jan. 29. The tournament takes place at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California.

This marks the first time in 20 years that a PGA TOUR event will air on ESPN’s primary linear network. The expanded coverage adds to ESPN’s broader golf media portfolio, which includes cross-platform distribution across television, streaming, and digital platforms.

For the first and second rounds, ESPN will air the PGA TOUR LIVE main feed from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET on Thursday and Friday. Viewers can also access the same coverage on the ESPN App. Thursday’s broadcast window coincides with Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA TOUR.

In addition to ESPN’s linear broadcast and the ESPN App, Disney+ and Hulu subscribers will have access to the main feed coverage on Thursday directly within their respective streaming apps. PGA TOUR LIVE coverage will continue through Sunday’s final round, with streaming available on the ESPN App.

Featured Player and Group Coverage

Brooks Koepka, a nine-time PGA TOUR winner, will appear in both the main feed coverage on ESPN and the ESPN App, as well as in featured group coverage available on the ESPN App during Thursday and Friday. His participation represents one of the notable player storylines during the opening rounds of the tournament.

Alongside Koepka, five players ranked among the top 20 in the world will be featured during the first two rounds through PGA TOUR LIVE coverage on the ESPN App. This featured group programming allows viewers to follow specific players more closely throughout their rounds.

Featured Hole Coverage

The ESPN App will also offer featured hole coverage, providing live access to all four par-3 holes at Torrey Pines. These include holes 3, 8, 11, and 16. The third hole, known for its scenic setting, will be included as part of this coverage.

This approach ensures continuous visibility of par-3 play throughout the tournament’s early rounds. Coverage for Saturday and Sunday will follow a similar format, although final schedules will depend on pairings and tee times, which will be announced later.

PGA TOUR LIVE and Media Rights Context

PGA TOUR LIVE on the ESPN App delivers more than 4,300 live and exclusive hours of golf coverage during the PGA TOUR season. The service covers 34 tournaments in 2026, including all eight of the TOUR’s Signature Events.

The PGA TOUR LIVE offering operates under the PGA TOUR’s nine-year domestic media rights agreement, which the organization announced in March 2020. The agreement outlines long-term distribution arrangements across ESPN platforms and supports a combination of live tournament coverage and supplemental viewing options.

ESPN App Distribution

ESPN distributes its live sports programming, studio shows, and original content through the ESPN App, which serves as a centralized platform for its networks and services. The app supports access across mobile devices and connected TVs and includes features such as multiview viewing, synchronized second-screen experiences, and personalized content feeds.

The ESPN App also integrates live statistics, fantasy sports tools, and betting-related information from DraftKings, along with access to sports merchandise. These features are available regardless of whether users subscribe directly or access the app through a traditional pay TV provider.

Bundled subscription options remain available, including a limited-time offer for the ESPN Direct-to-Consumer Unlimited plan combined with Disney+ and Hulu. Additional details are available through ESPN’s streaming platform.

United Parcel Service said it will eliminate up to 30,000 jobs and close 24 additional facilities in 2026 as it continues to reduce delivery volume for Amazon and to restructure its network. The announcement came alongside UPS's fourth-quarter earnings results, which exceeded Wall Street expectations, and a 2026 revenue forecast that surpassed analyst estimates. UPS shares rose 4% in midday trading following the release, while FedEx shares gained 2.6%.

Continued Reduction of Amazon Volume

UPS is in the final phase of its Amazon-accelerated glide-down plan. Chief Executive Officer Carol Tome said the company intends to reduce Amazon volume by another 1 million packages per day during 2026 while continuing to reconfigure its delivery network.

In January 2025, UPS announced it would accelerate plans to cut millions of low-margin deliveries tied to Amazon, its largest customer and a growing logistics competitor. At the time, UPS described the business as dilutive to margins. The company and its competitors have faced persistently soft demand across the delivery sector.

Workforce Reductions Planned for 2026

UPS said the planned job reductions will occur through attrition and another voluntary buyout offer for full-time drivers. Chief Financial Officer Brian Dykes said the company does not plan to implement layoffs.

The company eliminated 48,000 jobs in 2025, launched driver buyouts, and closed operations at 93 facilities as Amazon's shipping volume declined. Many of the upcoming reductions will come from not filling roles left vacant by part-time employees who leave, according to Dykes.

UPS reported approximately 490,000 employees in its 2024 annual report, including nearly 78,000 management employees. Updated employment figures for 2025 were not immediately available. The workforce is unionized.

Revenue Outlook and Volume Trends

UPS projected 2026 revenue of $89.7 billion, compared with $88.7 billion in 2025. Analysts surveyed by LSEG expected nearly $88 billion.

The company said it expects revenue to decline in the first half of 2026 as it completes the Amazon glide-down, then rise sequentially in the second half once those reductions are finalized.

Separately, UPS is working to stabilize shipping volumes following the end of U.S. duty-free de minimis shipments from China-linked discount retailers such as Shein and Temu.

Fourth-Quarter Performance

UPS reported fourth-quarter consolidated revenue of $24.5 billion, exceeding analyst estimates of $24 billion. On an adjusted basis, the company posted earnings of $2.38 per share for the quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with expectations of $2.20 per share.

Revenue per piece rose despite lower overall shipment volumes. In the U.S. domestic segment, revenue per piece increased 8.3%. International revenue per piece rose 7.1%, supported by the company’s focus on higher-margin shipments.

Excluding Amazon, peak holiday season volume produced mixed results. Small and medium-sized business shipments performed slightly better than expected, while large retailer volume came in weaker year over year, Dykes said.

Fleet Retirement and Related Charge

UPS also confirmed that it will retire its remaining MD-11 cargo aircraft by the end of 2025, accelerating a previously announced plan. The retirement followed a fatal crash involving an MD-11 aircraft in November. Replacement Boeing 767 aircraft are already scheduled for delivery.

The company recorded a non-cash, after-tax charge of $137 million related to the MD-11 fleet retirement.

Credit fund Enosis Capital has reached an agreement with AXA XL to provide insurance coverage supporting a new $3 billion pipeline of debt-for-nature transactions. According to Reuters, the partnership is expected to underpin a series of deals over the next four years, with the first transaction anticipated within the next six to nine months.

Debt-for-nature swaps are financial arrangements designed to help lower-income countries redirect funds toward conservation efforts. These deals typically replace existing government debt with lower-cost financing, enabling countries to allocate more resources to ecosystems such as coral reefs and rainforests.

Recent examples in Belize, Barbados, and Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands have contributed to growing awareness of the structure. However, market activity slowed over the past year. Reuters reported that changes at key institutions followed the return of U.S. President Donald Trump, a climate change skeptic, which contributed to a temporary reduction in deal volume.

Despite that slowdown, countries continue to show interest in using debt swaps. As a result, specialist finance and insurance firms are increasingly stepping into roles long considered essential to the market’s expansion.

Enosis Capital co-founder Ramzi Issa said broader private sector participation is necessary for debt-for-nature transactions to scale. Issa formed Enosis Capital in late 2024 after working on debt-for-nature swap structuring at Credit Suisse.

He said the partnership with AXA XL is central to Enosis Capital’s approach. Under the agreement, AXA XL will provide political risk insurance and related coverage. These forms of insurance are intended to reduce risk and support lower borrowing costs for participating countries.

Issa said Enosis Capital aims to complete more than a dozen debt-related transactions over the next four years as part of its $3 billion pipeline. He expects one deal to close within six to nine months and another before the end of the year. He declined to identify the countries involved, citing sensitivities in debt markets.

While the first transaction will not follow a traditional debt-for-nature swap structure, Issa said it will incorporate similar credit enhancements. These include risk insurance mechanisms that play a key role in keeping financing costs manageable.

The AXA XL agreement also forms part of a broader collaboration with the Debt For Nature Coalition. Coalition members include Conservation International, the World Wildlife Fund, and Re:wild, an organization backed by actor Leonardo DiCaprio.

AXA XL executives Jeff Abramson and Stuart Barrowcliff described debt swaps as a growth area for the insurer. AXA XL has underwritten multiple debt-for-nature transactions over the past decade. Most recently, the firm played a significant role in a Bahamas transaction completed in late 2024. In that deal, AXA XL insured $30 million of a $300 million loan.

Abramson said the partnership with Enosis Capital aims to address the complexity of debt-for-nature transactions. These deals often require extended negotiation periods and can take years to finalize. He said the collaboration seeks to make the process more systematic and reduce execution timelines.

According to Abramson, streamlining these structures could help accelerate deal development while maintaining the risk protections necessary for both borrowers and financial participants.

Recovery efforts continue across Nashville and Middle Tennessee as bitterly cold temperatures and widespread power outages linger following a major winter storm. Emergency crews remain active throughout the region, working around the clock to restore power and address infrastructure damage as freezing conditions persist.

As of the evening of Jan. 27, more than 135,000 customers remained without power in Middle Tennessee. Overnight temperatures again dropped into the single digits, a condition that has become common across much of the region since the storm system moved through. Although some areas briefly rose above freezing during daylight hours, temperatures did not increase uniformly. Limited sunshine led to little to no melting, keeping ice and snow firmly in place.

The storm brought a combination of snow, sleet, freezing rain, and ice to Nashville and surrounding areas, severely impacting roads and utilities. According to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, the weather event has been linked to five confirmed fatalities statewide, including two in Davidson County. The storm snapped trees and power poles, downed power lines, and left many residents stranded due to impassable roadways.

Utility crews have been deployed throughout the affected areas, clearing debris and restoring service. Restoration efforts have been complicated by continued cold temperatures, which have slowed repair work and increased safety risks for crews. Emergency responders have remained active since the storm moved through the region over the weekend.

The National Weather Service in Nashville reported that cold conditions are expected to persist through much of the week. Forecasts call for daytime highs in the 30s, with overnight lows ranging from the teens to single digits. These temperatures increase the likelihood that ice and snow will refreeze, further prolonging hazardous travel conditions and utility disruptions.

In a Jan. 26 update, the National Weather Service warned that dangerous travel conditions and power outages are expected to continue. The agency noted that refreezing ice and snow will likely prolong both roadway hazards and utility outages across the region.

In response to the ongoing emergency, shelters have opened throughout Middle Tennessee to provide temporary housing for residents affected by power outages and unsafe living conditions. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency released a statewide list of open shelters to support displaced residents and those without heat.

A federal emergency declaration was issued as the storm impacted the region, allowing additional resources to be mobilized. The entire state of Tennessee remains under a state of emergency as recovery efforts continue.

Emergency management officials, utility providers, and local governments continue to monitor conditions and coordinate response efforts. With cold temperatures expected to persist, power restoration and broader recovery are expected to progress gradually as crews work through damaged infrastructure and challenging weather.

Sustained premium increases, changing customer behavior, and growing reliance on digital channels are shaping key challenges for insurers as they enter 2026. Findings from J.D. Power Insurance Intelligence studies and proprietary market data show that rate pressure is influencing shopping activity, retention, and customer expectations across the industry.

Rate Increases Drive Shopping and Switching

In 2025, 57% of auto insurance customers shopped for coverage, up from 49% in 2024. Unlike previous years, more customers are now finding lower prices and acting on them. As a result, 29% of insurance customers switched insurers in 2025.

Although overall customer satisfaction remained stable, increased competition and more aggressive pricing have made switching easier. This shift is expected to continue putting pressure on insurers in 2026.

High-Value Customer Retention Weakens

Premium increases are also affecting customers who have historically been viewed as the most loyal. High-value customers, defined by their likelihood to bundle products and maintain long-term relationships, are now among the least likely to renew. Only 51% say they will definitely stay with their current insurer.

Understanding premium changes plays a key role in satisfaction. Customers who understand why rates increase report higher satisfaction than those who do not. In the absence of clear explanations, some customers are turning to artificial intelligence tools to learn insurance terminology, evaluate coverage, and compare quotes, altering how they interact with insurers.

Digital Channels Take a Central Role

Digital engagement continues to expand across the insurance lifecycle. Nearly half of all policy buyers, or 47%, now purchase coverage through digital channels, compared with 35% through agents and 17% through call centers.

According to the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, providing a seamless cross-channel experience is the strongest driver of customer satisfaction. Customers who begin interactions through an insurer’s mobile app are more likely to report seamless experiences than those who start by phone or with an agent.

Digital experience quality also influences future behavior. When customers report excellent digital experiences, 92% say they will continue using digital channels. That figure drops to 40% among customers who report poor digital experiences.

Usage-Based Insurance Shows Mixed Results

Usage-based insurance programs continue to evolve as insurers refine their approaches. In 2025, 17% of insurers offered usage-based insurance, up from 15% in 2024 but down from 22% in 2023.

Mobile apps remain the most common method for collecting driving data, though they are associated with lower satisfaction scores than other methods. Satisfaction averages 628 for app-based programs, compared with higher scores for onboard vehicle systems, installed devices, and self-reported data.

Usage-based insurance is often positioned as a way to reduce premiums. Its effectiveness depends on customer trust in how driving data is collected and used.

This Insurance Intelligence Report is based on data from J.D. Power Insurance Intelligence studies conducted during 2025 and was authored by Craig Martin, Stephen Crewdson, and Tony Soloman of J.D. Power.

A new study from the University of California, San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography finds that the economic cost of climate change is nearly double previous estimates after accounting for damage to the ocean. The research marks the first time an assessment of the social cost of carbon has formally included ocean-related losses.

The social cost of carbon, often referred to as SCC, is a metric used to estimate the economic harm associated with each metric ton of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere. International organizations and government agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, have historically used the SCC to evaluate climate and energy policy proposals.

Until now, those calculations excluded ocean impacts.

According to the study, damages tied to global coral loss, fisheries disruption, and coastal infrastructure destruction amount to nearly $2 trillion annually. By incorporating those losses, researchers found that the social cost of carbon rises from $51 per ton of carbon dioxide to $97.20 per ton, an increase of 91%.

“Ocean loss is not just an environmental issue, but a central part of the economic story of climate change,” said Bernardo Bastien-Olvera, who led the study during his postdoctoral fellowship at Scripps.

The ocean covers approximately 70% of the planet. In 2024, global carbon dioxide emissions totaled an estimated 41.6 billion tons, making the revised cost estimate significant in scale.

The study also projects future economic impacts. Using greenhouse gas emission forecasts, researchers estimate that annual damages to traditional markets alone will reach $1.66 trillion by 2100.

To complete the analysis, the research team, which began work in 2021, brought together fisheries experts, coral reef researchers, biologists, and climate economists. The group evaluated climate-related losses across four sectors: corals, mangroves, fisheries, and seaports. The assessment included both direct market losses, such as reduced fisheries output and marine trade disruption, and declines in ocean-based recreation.

In addition to market impacts, the study assigned monetary values to what economists describe as non-use values. These include the cultural, aesthetic, and ecological significance of ocean ecosystems that people may never directly experience but still value.

“Something has value because it makes the world feel more livable, meaningful, or worth protecting, even if we never directly use it,” Bastien-Olvera said.

The findings also highlight uneven global effects. Island economies and lower-income countries that depend heavily on seafood for nutrition face disproportionate financial and health impacts from ocean warming and acidification. According to the study, including ocean data in SCC calculations reveals increased risks related to morbidity and mortality tied to nutritional deficiencies in these regions.

“The countries that have the most responsibility for causing climate change and the most capacity to fix it are not generally the same countries that will experience the largest or most near-term damages,” said Kate Ricke, a study co-author and climate professor at UCSD’s School of Global Policy and Strategy.

While the social cost of carbon has served as a key policy tool, it has also been subject to political debate. A 2025 White House memo from the Trump administration instructed federal agencies to disregard SCC estimates in cost-benefit analyses unless legally required. Amy Campbell, a United Nations climate advisor and former British government negotiator, noted that disputes often arise over which damages are included and how future harms are valued.

Despite those challenges, researchers involved in the study expressed optimism that the findings could inform international decision-making. Ricke referenced the potential for increased investment in ocean adaptation and resilience, including coral reef and mangrove restoration.

The study also acknowledges the longstanding role of coastal communities, ocean scientists, and Indigenous groups in recognizing ocean value. Bastien-Olvera said incorporating ocean damage into climate economics represents a shift away from treating ocean systems as economically negligible.

“For a long time, climate economics treated the ocean values as if it were worth zero,” he said.

The Los Angeles Fire Department has added a new operational resource to reduce wildfire risk across the city. Known as Crew 4, the unit is the department’s first full-time paid wildland hand crew, created in response to increasingly destructive wildfire activity in Southern California.

On a recent day in the Sepulveda Basin near the Los Angeles River, crew members worked under shaded trees, cutting and removing dense vegetation. The area is prone to brush fires due to dense vegetation and homeless encampments. Using chainsaws and woodchippers, the team removed invasive trees and heavy brush to reduce fuel loads before fires ignite.

Crew 4 was formed following the Palisades Fire in January 2025, which was part of a series of 12 fires across the Los Angeles region. Those fires killed 31 people in the Altadena and Pacific Palisades communities and destroyed thousands of homes and structures. The Eaton and Palisades fires are now listed among the 10 deadliest wildfires in California history. The Palisades Fire alone burned more than 23,000 acres, destroyed thousands of structures, and began on Jan. 7, outside the traditional wildfire season.

According to the department, the crew strengthens both emergency response and year-round vegetation management. A large portion of Los Angeles falls within a very high fire hazard zone. During active fires, the crew digs fire lines and removes brush ahead of or along the fire’s edge. Before fires start, members focus on fuel reduction to limit ember spread during high-wind events, such as Santa Ana conditions.

Wildfire activity in California has expanded significantly in recent decades. The state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment reports that both the area burned by wildfires and the number of large fires have increased, driven by land use changes, fire management practices, and climate conditions. Between 2020 and 2024, the annual average area burned statewide was about three times higher than during the 2010s.

Fire Chief Adam VanGerpen said wildfire risk in Southern California is no longer seasonal. Fires can occur year-round because of dry vegetation, low fuel moisture, and high winds. He cited the Palisades Fire as an example of a major wildfire that occurred outside the typical late spring through October window.

Crew 4 members completed five weeks of intensive training and graduated in June 2025. Since then, they have trained daily through physical conditioning, difficult terrain hikes across Los Angeles County, and frequent brush clearance work. The crew operates out of Fire Station 88 in the San Fernando Valley, which also serves as a training facility. The department said the team is becoming a central training resource for wildland fire operations.

The crew consists of more than 20 civilian wildland fire technicians, three sworn LAFD foremen, and a superintendent. The program was nearly two decades in the making. A volunteer hand crew program began in 2006, and officials advocated for a paid crew over the years. The department said the full-time model increases staffing consistency and overall capacity.

Officials said the crew is fully prepared to respond to wildfire incidents. Training has continued without interruption since late May and early June 2025, with a focus on coordinated response and safety.

Fire Chief Jamie Moore said lessons from the Palisades Fire are shaping how the department trains, prepares, and deploys resources, as well as how it works with communities. He said resident safety remains the department’s top priority.

Mayor Karen Bass said Crew 4 supports the city’s focus on both wildfire prevention and response. In a statement, she said investing in brush clearance and vegetation management plays a critical role in protecting communities while supporting response to fires and other all-hazard incidents.

Crew members come from a range of backgrounds, including prior volunteer service and other public safety roles. Some joined after responding to multiple fires across Los Angeles during January 2025. Others entered the program with limited wildland experience and completed the required training.

Department officials said having a dedicated hand crew allows the city to rely less on neighboring agencies during wildfire responses. Familiarity with local terrain and repeated training in the same environments also allows the crew to anticipate fire behavior and support suppression efforts more effectively.

Chatham Insurance Services (Chatham), a division of DOXA, announced the launch of aggregate excess of loss coverage for value-based care providers.

The new coverage helps address claim volatility across aggregate patient panels. It is written through United States Fire Insurance Company, rated A+ (Superior) by AM Best in 2025. United States Fire Insurance Company operates under the Crum & Forster (C&F) registered trademark.

Providers in value-based care arrangements face growing financial uncertainty. Claim volatility and unclear benchmarking often sit outside their control.

“Aggregate excess of loss is a targeted solution for these challenges,” said Josh Brickell, executive vice president, excess of loss – aggregate, at Chatham. “Coverage directly aligns with shared savings and losses that affect financial performance.”

As a result, organizations gain greater predictability and can also remain focused on patient outcomes and long-term savings.

“By protecting against aggregate losses or guaranteeing shared savings, ACOs can stay focused on delivering high-quality care,” Brickell said.

Chatham is one of the largest independent management liability insurance program managers in the managed care industry. Its offerings include managed care, errors and omissions, cyber, directors and officers, employment practices liability, crime, fiduciary, identity fraud, and kidnap and ransom coverage.

In 2024, Chatham expanded its platform using DOXA’s program development capabilities. That effort led to the launch of its specific excess of loss division.

With this latest addition, Chatham now offers a full spectrum of excess of loss solutions. Few providers in the managed care market offer comparable breadth.

The aggregate excess of loss program supports provider groups engaged in value-based care. Eligible organizations include:

• Accountable care organizations participating in CMS shared savings programs
• Providers contracting with commercial payers

The coverage delivers stability for uncontrollable risks. It also offers cost-effective options tailored to each client’s risk tolerance.

Chatham applies a data-driven underwriting approach. The program is supported by a dedicated team of aggregate excess of loss specialists.

“Crum & Forster is pleased to partner with Chatham on this offering,” said Tanya Arrowsmith, senior vice president, Accident & Health Division, Medical Business Unit, at Crum & Forster.

“Claims volatility can strain financial performance and complicate compliance,” Arrowsmith said. “This coverage helps organizations manage costs, mitigate risk, and adapt to change.”

She added that the partnership strengthens solutions for managed care insureds and their brokers. Also, clients receive personalized service, including timely, industry-leading claims support.

Chatham’s aggregate excess of loss coverage is now available. Agents and brokers working with ACOs or value-based care providers may contact Josh Brickell at Josh.Brickell@chathamins.com.

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