Farmers Dispatches Vehicles, Claims Personnel to California Wildfires

In response to wildfires in California, Farmers Insurance Group (Los Angeles) has dispatched two customer care vehicles and a significant number of claims personnel.

The fires, which began on Aug. 26 have burned approximately 20,000 acres and threaten thousands of homes as well as communications infrastructure, according to multiple sources. Two firefighters were killed in a vehicle accident while traveling along the front of the fire in Southern California.

"Our claims teams are spreading out throughout the fires in Northern and Southern California to help our customers with claims," said a statement from Farmers state executive director Kirk Tweedy and Bill Matlock, vice president and state executive director of Farmers Los Angeles State Office. "We have the resources in place to help our customers file claims quickly and easily," the statement continued.

Two of the carrier's customer care vehicles have been dispatched to Auburn in Northern California and La Canada Flintridge in Los Angeles County, and the carrier's Mobile Command Center is on standby, to be dispatched as needed, according to Farmers spokesman Jerry Davies.

Davies reports that a large number of claims personnel from various parts of California have been sent to assist customers, though he could not say exactly how many. Others from outside California could be called upon if needed. Davies says that none of the Los Angeles-based insurers facilities are threatened by the fire, including those related to Farmers acquisition of 21st Century Insurance.

Anthony O'Donnell has covered technology in the insurance industry since 2000, when he joined the editorial staff of Insurance & Technology. As an editor and reporter for I&T and the InformationWeek Financial Services of TechWeb he has written on all areas of information ... View Full Bio