As Los Angeles burned, last month's fires highlighted an insurance crisis in California and other parts of the United States.

The insurance industry is the canary in the coal mine with regard to the climate crisis,

and the canary has died.

Yeah, let's get out of here.

We tried. We tried, bro. I'm sorry.

Many people are no longer able to afford their premiums,

while others are being dropped by their insurers.

You're on pins and needles every year when it comes to renewal.

And many of those affected have now lost everything to the LA fires.

I know in his heart he wants to rebuild, but I don't know how that happens with no insurance.

So what's gone wrong and can we fix it? I'm Lexi O'Connor, and you're listening to Business Daily from the BBC World Service.

It had a fountain in the front.

It was right at the top across the street from Farnsworth Park.

You know, in the summer evenings, you could hear the music from the concerts.

On clear days, you can see out to the ocean.

You can see Catalina Island.

And it was just a home where everybody was invited and everybody came together and we celebrated and we mourned and we just lived, you know, and that was

Grandpa's house. Rita Maldonado lives in the Pasadena district of Los Angeles. Her home wasn't

burned in the recent wildfires, but on the night of the 7th of January this year, as fires raged around the

city, she began to worry about her dad and stepmom, who live a couple of miles away in an area

called Altadena. From my house, I could see, you know, like a pink fire cloud. And so immediately I called my stepmother. And I said,

you should start getting your things. I'll go pick you guys up. It's very hard for my dad to walk.

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