A helicopter drops water on the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon, Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Etienne Laurent/AP Photo)
When asked for further response, a representative for Garamendi pointed to recent remarks he made on the subject.
"The commissioner must really stand up for consumers, and that is the challenge that the current commissioner (Lara) must address in the days ahead."
"Unfortunately, in the months and years past, he basically rolled over and let the insurance companies cancel policies which they did in the Palisades area, and he allowed the insurance companies to double and, in many cases, triple and quadruple homeowner insurance rates without the normal and the required public hearings and detailed investigation," Garamendi said.
Meanwhile, in the state legislature, Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones blamed Gov. Gavin Newsom as well as Lara and Sacramento Democrats for putting off serious reform to the insurance structure.
"Waiting this long leaves us now with the current system waiting for major reforms to take effect, and could result in the total failure of the insurance market during these catastrophic events like those we are seeing in Los Angeles," said Jones, R-San Diego.
"Sadly, if the FAIR Plan collapses, every Californian will be paying the price with a surcharge on their homeowner policies to cover the state's failures to act."
Fox News Digital also reached out to Newsom for comment but did not receive a response by press time.
Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.
He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant.
Charles covers media, politics and culture for Fox News Digital.
Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ca-post-wildfire-beef-heats-up-state-insurance-chief-accuses-dem-congressman-white-mansplaining