Bride left in limbo: VRBO denies cancellation as wildfire threatens bachelorette party

A bride-to-be turned to 5 On Your Side for help after a VRBO host refused to cancel her reservation.

Caroline Davies is facing a significant financial loss after her bachelorette party at Big Bear Lake was threatened by a massive California wildfire. The rental home is just 0.18 miles outside a mandatory evacuation zone. Even with the entire county under a state of emergency and air quality warnings, the VRBO host, Ella Homes, refused to cancel the reservation.

The Line Fire has scorched over 37,000 acres in Southern California, leading to road closures and evacuation notices. Despite this, when Davies’ maid of honor tried to cancel the reservation, Homes refused, citing the company’s cancellation policy and sent check-in instructions instead.

“It’s insane. I’ve never experienced wildfires before, being from the East Coast,” said Davies. “It’s grossly negligent to encourage a group of out-of-towners to travel to an active fire zone.”

While VRBO initially told the group they could relocate to a hotel if the house became unsafe, 5 On Your Side contacted local hotels – most were closed due to the fire.

5 On Your Side reached out to California’s attorney general and VRBO, emphasizing that VRBO’s “extenuating circumstances policy” covers wildfires, which should allow Davies to cancel without penalty. So far, no action has been taken.

For Davies and her bridal party, the issue isn’t about money. They’re concerned that staying in the area would not only endanger them but also distract firefighters from their critical work.

“Being there would put everyone at risk,” Davies said.

According to messages obtained by 5 On Your Side, Davies isn’t the only person having trouble canceling a booking with Ella Homes during the wildfire. Another customer wrote on Facebook that she tried to cancel her stay at the same location, citing the wildfire, and was also refused.

VRBO told 5 On Your Side that it is working on resolving the matter and will provide an update as soon as possible.