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As federal and state lawmakers call for soil testing after the Eaton and Palisades wildfires, the Newsom administration keeps downplaying contamination concerns.

The decision follows widespread complaints that State Farm General — the California home insurer that is part of the larger State Farm Group based in Bloomington, Ill. — is fumbling its handling of the Palisades and Eaton fires, which along with other Jan. 7 blazes amount to the largest fire disaster in the state’s history.

“In the wake of the Eaton fire, our community deserves clear communication and fair treatment. If State Farm is wrongfully denying my neighbors coverage, we need to know why — plain and simple,” he said, in a statement included in the department’s press release.

It said through its intervention into such complaints, it has secured more than $40 million for survivors of the Eaton and Palisades fires.

As of May 12, insurers have paid out nearly $17 billion to residential and commercial insurance policyholders who filed Eaton and Palisades fire claims, the department said.