The outbreak of deadly wildfires in Southern California has prompted criticism of insurers who have dropped coverage in the state due to regulations that make it hard to price for risk.

Several California insurers have cut policies in wildfire-prone areas of the state in recent years, leaving homeowners scrambling for options.

State Farm canceled hundreds of homeowners’ insurance policies for residents in many of the same areas now in the path of the Southern California wildfires. The insurance company’s reasoning for canceling policies for people living in Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles County,

An analysis by J.P. Morgan estimates that the insured losses from the Southern California wildfires could exceed $20 billion and push overall economic losses to $50 billion.

The wind-driven wildfires burning out of control in the Los Angeles area couldn't have emerged at a more perilous moment for California's homeowners, as officials try to rehab what they concede is a deepening "insurance crisis.

Some insurers have scaled back their coverage in California because of wildfires over the past few years, creating a challenge for rebuilding.