SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Fire Victim Trust (FVT) announced today that individuals who suffered losses in the Butte Fire (2015), North Bay Fires (2017) and Camp Fire (2018) will now have until February 26, 2021 to submit claims.
FVT Claims Administrator Cathy Yanni explained that the extension beyond the initial December 31, 2020 deadline aims to support Fire Victims facing a deluge of unprecedented challenges.
“We communicate with Fire Victims every day and know that many are still struggling to obtain the essential records and other information required to file claims. Their stories of loss and hardship are heartbreaking. The Fire Victims have faced an additional array of obstacles including geographic displacement, new wildfires, and the numerous economic and health impacts of Covid-19,” Yanni said. “Extending the claims deadline will help ensure that every person eligible for compensation is able to take advantage of the opportunity to file a claim and receive a distribution from the Fire Victim Trust.”
In August 2020, the FVT began accepting claims through its website, FireVictimTrust.com. The user-friendly site provides an array of resources to guide Fire Victims and their attorneys through the process of completing the Claims Questionnaire, including video tutorials, FAQs and contact information for getting rapid assistance. The FVT anticipates receiving claims from as many as 80,000 victims of the fires, which destroyed tens of thousands of homes and businesses.
On November 2nd the FVT announced it will begin distributing preliminary payments of up to $25,000 as early as Thanksgiving to Fire Victims who have filed claims, with the amount to be deducted from the total compensation claimants receive. The FVT is evaluating all claims submitted on an ongoing basis for inclusion in the preliminary payment program and will process such payments on an ongoing basis.
Visit FireVictimTrust.com for more information.
About the Fire Victim Trust
Under the direction of the Trustee, the Honorable John K. Trotter (Ret.), and the Claims Administrator, Cathy Yanni, the Fire Victim Trust provides an efficient and equitable process to compensate Fire Victims for both economic and noneconomic damages caused by these fires, including destruction or damage to real estate and personal property, additional living expenses, lost wages, business losses, emotional distress, personal injury and death. For more information, visit FireVictimTrust.com.
