Statute of Limitations
Arizona: 2 years for personal injury and property damage (A.R.S. § 12-542). Discovery rule applies for latent injuries. Claims against governmental entities require notice within 180 days under A.R.S. § 12-821.01.
2 years from discovery of injury or damage
Where to File in Arizona
Wildfire claims in Arizona are filed in Maricopa County Superior Court (Phoenix), Pinal County (Telegraph Fire area), and the District of Arizona federal court. Arizona follows a pure comparative fault system (A.R.S. § 12-2505) where recovery is reduced by the plaintiff's fault but not barred at any threshold. Arizona caps punitive damages in certain contexts but does not cap compensatory damages in negligence cases. A key complication is that Salt River Project operates as a federal reclamation district with potential sovereign immunity, requiring claimants to carefully analyze the applicable liability framework. Arizona Public Service, as a private investor-owned utility, does not have immunity defenses.
Exposure in Arizona
Source: Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management
Source: USFS Tonto National Forest / InciWeb
Source: USFS Wildland-Urban Interface Assessment