County: Butte, CA | Incident: Park Fire |

Resource Type: Financial Assistance, Insurance Claim Assistance, Interactive Map, and Legal Assistance

Butte County – Park Fire: Financial, Legal, & Insurance Resources

Individuals and families impacted by the Park Fire can access the resources below for mortgage relief, disaster legal aid, navigating insurance claims, contractor verification, and land recovery. For additional community support, please visit helpcentral.org

CalAssist Mortgage Fund

Provides a state-funded program offering mortgage relief for displaced families whose primary residences were destroyed or severely damaged to the point of being uninhabitable by qualified California disasters such as wildfires (including the Park Fire and Thompson Fire) or winter storms.

Please note that funding is limited, and applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted.

Under the expanded program, eligible applicants may receive up to 12 months (one year) of mortgage payments. Grants are paid directly to the mortgage servicer, do not need to be repaid, and there is no cost to apply.

  • Qualified disasters must have occurred from January 1, 2023 through January 8, 2025
  • Must meet the updated income limits for your county
  • Must have a mortgage or reverse mortgage through a participating mortgage servicer (available whether you are current, in forbearance, or behind on payments)
  • Must own a single-family home, condo, or permanently affixed manufactured home (may include up to 4 units)
  • Applicants should have proof of identification, their mortgage statement, bank statements, utility bill, homeowner insurance or FEMA claim, and proof of income

For questions or application assistance, call the CalAssist Mortgage Fund at 1-800-501-0019
Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

For more information and to apply online, visit CalHFA CalAssist Mortgage Fund Program

Legal Services of Northern California

Provides free legal assistance to low-to-moderate-income individuals and families facing disaster-related issues, including:

  • Government assistance/disaster related benefits
  • Replacement of prescriptions or medical equipment
  • Housing & renter rights, job/employment impacts
  • Mortgage lender disaster questions
  • Legal requirements during rebuilding
  • Replacing legal documents lost in the fire
  • Insurance claims
  • Homeowner remedies
  • And other issues

If you have legal questions as a result of the Park Fire, please call 1-800-660-3458, email disasterhelp@lsnc.net or submit a request for help online at: www.tfaforms.com/5061669

Contractors State License Board (CSLB)

Provides resources to help fire survivors confirm a contractor license or Home Improvement Salesperson (HIS) Registration is active and valid before hiring them for debris removal or rebuilding. This search includes full complaint disclosures.

Before hiring a contractor or signing a contract, CSLB recommends you read the Hiring a Contractor page.

To search for a licensed contractor:

Please note: The database is unavailable Sundays at 8 p.m. through Monday at 6 a.m. due to scheduled maintenance.

California Department of Insurance

Provides resources, tips, and actions to help homeowners and businesses who are affected by wildfires.

Mandatory One-Year Moratorium on Non-Renewals

Under California law (SB 824), insurance companies cannot cancel or non-renew residential insurance policies for one year within or adjacent to a declared wildfire perimeter. This applied to all residential policyholders in the affected areas who suffered less than a total loss, including those who suffered no damage at all.

Because these mandatory protections last for exactly 12 months from the date of the Governor’s emergency declaration, the windows for these 2024 fires have concluded:

  • Thompson Fire (Butte County): Protection expired July 3, 2025.
  • Park Fire (Butte/Tehama) & Gold Complex Fire (Plumas): Protection expired July 26, 2025.
  • Borel Fire (Kern County): Protection expired July 30, 2025.

To look up historical data and check if your ZIP code was officially included in these past protections, review the California Department of Insurance Moratorium Bulletins.

If your insurance provider wrongfully canceled or non-renewed your policy during that protected one-year window, you can still file a formal Request for Assistance with the state to seek a resolution.

United Policy Holders

2024 California Wildfires – Insurance Claim and Recovery Help
Offers step-by-step instructions on how to navigate insurance claims for fire survivors.
For more information, visit https://uphelp.org/disaster-recovery-help/2024cawildfires/

Roadmap to Recovery

Assists disaster survivors navigating the insurance process and rebuilding after a disaster. 
Services include:

  • Educational Resources: Guides, tips, and videos on insurance and recovery.
  • Workshops and Webinars: Events with expert advice on the recovery process.
  • One-on-One Assistance: Personalized help with insurance claims and rebuilding.

Visit the United Policyholders Recover Page for more information.

Survivor to Survivor Forum

Offers a monthly virtual meeting for fire survivors about how to recover after a wildfire. These sessions are led by individuals who have navigated recovery or are in the process of recovering from previous fires themselves.

Meetings are held every third Tuesday of the month, and registration is required to receive the Zoom meeting link.

To view the upcoming schedule and register, visit the United Policyholders Events Calendar.

Western Fire Chiefs Association

Homeowners insurance can provide coverage for wildfires, but it’s important to understand the specifics of your policy. Here’s what you need to know:

  • Filing a Claim: Contact your insurance provider and provide details about the fire, including the date, time, location, and a description of damages.
  • Documentation: Provide documentation such as photos or videos of the damage, a detailed inventory of your belongings, and any receipts or appraisals for valuable items.
  • Claim Processing Time: Typically takes 90–120 days.
  • Coverage Limits: Depends entirely on the terms and limits stated in your specific policy.
  • Additional Living Expenses (ALE) Coverage: Assists with temporary housing, meals, and other increased living expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable due to a covered event.
  • Upfront Funds: Often covers immediate needs, such as emergency housing or clothing.

For more information on protecting your home and navigating insurance claims, explore the Western Chiefs Association’s Wildfire Articles.

Park Fire Structure Damage Map

CAL FIRE and the County have released an online map showing structures damaged or destroyed in the Park Fire, searchable by address. To view the map, visit bit.ly/parkfiressm

California Native Plant Society

Provides a comprehensive Fire Recovery Guide detailing how to best reestablish native plants within the burn scar in order to support California habitats and ecosystems while making properties more resilient to fire and future events.