Damian Eales Chief Executive Officer | realtors.com
The recent wildfires in Los Angeles have prompted Mike Yurochko, a California resident and survivor of the 2019 Kincade fire, to assist others facing similar hardships. Yurochko's home in Sonoma County suffered severe damage during the Kincade fire while he was away visiting his daughter. "We got sent a video, a live broadcast by a vlogger on the ground that was following firemen," he recounted to Realtor.com. Although firefighters managed to save the main house, other structures were lost.
Following the fire, Yurochko's property was looted, exacerbating an already challenging situation. He described dealing with separate insurance claims for fire damage and theft as "very complicated" due to different departments handling each issue.
In response to his experiences, Yurochko created Loti, an online platform designed to aid fire victims in rebuilding their lives. The platform offers guidance through various recovery phases and aims to empower users with knowledge about legal documents and claim forms. "We’ve got to help these folks," Yurochko stated about his motivation for launching Loti.
As fires continue to ravage Los Angeles, Cal Fire reports over 40,000 acres burned and at least 12,300 structures destroyed. The death toll stands at 27 according to the L.A. County Medical Examiner.
Reflecting on his own experience with wildfires, Yurochko remains committed to helping others in California: "California is one of the most beautiful places on the planet... we can all recover stronger together."
Realtor.com has partnered with the REALTORS Relief Foundation to provide urgent housing assistance for those affected by the January 2025 Southern California wildfires.
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