Paradise Fire Ruled an Arson

Arson has been deemed the cause of a wildfire last month in and surrounding the town of Paradise. The fire leveled more than 80 homes.

According to a report from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, investigators have ruled out other possible causes for the blaze.

Last month's fire scorched more than 23,500 acres after it began on June 11.

A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

Wildfires Continue to Scorch Parts of the State

The fact that it isn't even officially fire season in California makes the current fires burning in parts of California all the more frightening.

Yet another day and fires continue to burn, with the area of Big Sur now threatened. One firefighter has also died during the recent fires. Other victims are animals, as the fires send wildlife headed for safer grounds.

One blaze, which has scorched more than 64,000 acres in the Los Padres National Forest, was just one of hundreds flaming around the state.

Elsewhere, a wildfire is threatening more than 200 canyon homes in the Santa Ynez Mountains above communities on the southern Santa Barbara County coastline. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency in Santa Barbara County to free up resources to battle that blaze, which has consumed more than 2,400 acres.

Meantime, crews near the Pacific Coast Highway tackled flames from homes and historic landmarks. More than a dozen homes have been destroyed in the area since the blaze started nearly two weeks ago.

Needless to say, the 4th of July will not be a relaxing one for firefighters.

Thursday Headlines.....

** Thought of the Day: We saw a story on the wires today about what happens to homes after someone is murdered in them. The story on Foxnews.com (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,369083,00.html) looked at such former homes as those of murderers John Wayne Gacy and Jeffrey Dahmer, and victims like Sharon Tate (pictured to right), Nicole Brown Simpson and JonBenet Ramsey. It is a very interesting story and makes one wonder if you could live in the home of someone who killed or was killed. Our guess is it would be a little spooky to say the least.

NEWS/SPORTS
* San Diego City Attorney Michael Aguirre has sued San Diego Gas & Electric in an effort to recover millions of dollars in damages caused to city property and for firefighting costs associated with last October's wildfires. The civil complaint says SDG&E failed to take steps to prevent downed utility lines from sparking the devastating Witch Creek and Guejito fires. The lawsuit reportedly seeks to claims tens of millions of dollars. To see more on this story, visit dailyinsurer.blogspot.com .

* A Norwalk man was arrested after reportedly leaving his 8-year-old Rotweiler in the car as temperatures outside topped 100 degrees. The dog, Sierra, died after being left in the vehicle on Wednesday afternoon. The man claims he answered a phone after leaving the car and forgot about the dog.

* A new cell phone law goes into effect in California on July 1. If you are caught holding a phone in your hand while driving, police will issue fines. The initial ticket is $20, but with court fees, it's closer to $75. Motorists will still be allowed to use a hand-held cell phone or other mobile device in an emergency.

* Mixed results Thursday afternoon for So Cal's baseball teams. The Los Angeles Dodgers scored a 7-4 win in Cincinnati, while the San Diego Padres dropped a 2-1 decision to the Yankees in New York.

MONDAY HEADLINES.....

NEWS

* A new survey of insurance companies estimates that nearly 90 percent of claims stemming from the devastating October fire and wind storms in California have been settled. A poll by the Insurance Information Network of California (www.iinc.org) of companies representing nearly two-thirds of California’s homeowner insurance market found that they have settled 29,954 of their 33,789 residential claims from the October catastrophe. To date, those claims have resulted in more than $1.27 billion worth of claims settlements among the surveyed companies, which expect those claims to ultimately total $1.47 billion. Editor's note: To see more of this story, visit dailyinsurer.blogspot.com.

* California's Labor and Workforce Development Agency announced that Economic Employment Enforcement Coalition (EEEC) investigators issued 41 citations for labor violations – with fines totaling more than $226,000 – in a recent sweep of 28 San Diego auto body businesses. Editor's note: To see more of this story, visit dailyinsurer.blogspot.com

* Gas prices continue to go up, up, up and California drivers are seeing the worst of it. While drivers in New Jersey pay the least on average for a gallon of gas, drivers in the Golden State are paying $3.86 on average for a gallon of gas.

SPORTS

* The Los Angeles Dodgers rebounded from being swept over the weekend in Atlanta as they posted a 9-3 win at Cincinnati. Meantime, the San Diego Padres were hammered in Houston by a 10-3 score.