A denial letter reads like a verdict and is usually a position. Claims get denied for reasons that are factual and fixable at least as often as for reasons that are final, and the two look identical in the letter. The only way to tell them apart is to make the insurer say exactly which policy words they are relying on.

The thing that genuinely ends a claim is not a denial. It is a deadline passing. California policies contain a limitation period for bringing suit on a claim, historically one year from the loss in the standard fire form, and legislation has extended certain wildfire-related periods. Which period applies to you depends on your policy and the loss. This is the single most important date in your file and you should establish it in writing, from your policy and from a lawyer, early. Not yet confirmed by LAEDC.

Get the denial in writing, with the specific policy provisions quoted. A verbal denial is not something you can answer. If what you have is a phone call, email back asking for the written denial and the provisions relied on.

Then work out which kind of denial it is, because the answer to each is completely different and answering the wrong one wastes months.