The Colby Fire continues to burn in the foothills above Glendora and Azusa after it erupted just before 6 a.m. on Thursday near the Angeles National Forest, according to a story .

More than five dozen firefighters have been deployed to battle the rapidly growing blaze, and though progress has been made, the fire was reportedly only 30 percent contained as of 11 p.m. last night.

Yesterday, flames and smoke forced 3,700 Californians to evacuate the area. So far, the blaze has scorched 1,709 acres, damaged 17 buildings, and destroyed at least five homes, including a guest house on the campus of the historic Singer Mansion, a 1920s estate built by heirs to the Singer sewing machine fortune.

It is still premature to speculate as to the number or potential total costs, but insurers can expect claims for partial and total losses to dwellings to begin rolling in. PCI, among other insurance carriers, is offering tips to residents in the Glendora and Azusa areas to not only help ensure their safety but to also help prepare them for the best possible claims outcomes.

PCI urges residents to heed state and local warnings, and to evacuate when asked. Once in a safe location, residents should begin saving receipts for hotels, meals and other expenses and contact their respective insurers through toll-free claims telephone numbers.

Policyholders who have lost their homes to the fires are immediately eligible for additional living expense (ALE) coverage, which may reimburse for increased living expenses such as, lodging, clothing, toiletries and other necessities. Policyholders who are evacuated for a period of time by state or local officials, and do not lose their home, may also be eligible for ALE reimbursement if the home next door is damaged by fire, and civil authorities prevent you from returning to your home.

No stranger to devastation to its sprawling landscape, California witnessed the third largest wildfire in its history just last year—the Rim Fire. The massive fire, which has been named the largest wildfire ever in the Sierra Nevada region, began on Aug. 17, 2013 and was not contained until Oct. 24., at which point it had charred 257,314 acres. The Rim fire was caused by a hunter's illegal fire that went out of control.

According to a KABC report, authorities have also intimated that human intervention was a primary factor in the origin of the Colby Fire. Today, the story notes, Glendora police arrested three campers in connection with the fire. The suspects range from 21 to 23 years in age.

Special Reports /

As Firefighters Battle Colby Blaze, Insurers Prepare Residents for Claims Process

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