In fight over insurance, neighbors crowdsource LA fire contamination data

(AP) — All sense of survivors’ guilt was fleeting for those residents whose homes remained standing after wildfires ripped through the Los Angeles area three months ago.Many worried that smoke from theEaton wildfirethat destroyed more than 9,000 structures andkilled 18 peoplemay have carriedtoxins, including lead, asbestos and heavy metals, into their homes. But they struggled to convince their insurers to test their properties to ensure it was safe to return.Nicole Maccalla, a data scientist, said embers burned more than half of her roof, several windows and eaves were damaged, and her house in Altadena was left filled with ash, debris, soot and damaged appliances. She said her insurance adjuster said USAA would pay for contamination testing, but after choosing a company and coming back with the results, her claim was rejected. The adjuster said the company only covered testing in homes with major damage.“Every single item is a battle,” said Maccalla. “It’s denials and appeals and den...