Just for your information:

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Insurance companies might drop coverage in high fire areas. The state will soon require 5-feet of defensible space - ember resistant zone - around your home, separate from the 100 feet of space needed for your property. That means adding 5-feet of space between the physical structure of the home and any materials that can burn. It applies to a wide range of materials: Those beautiful box hedges, bougainvillea, birds of paradise, anything that’s combustible.

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It also applies to mulch and bark. The state recommends replacing those items with things like concrete, stone, or gravel. The ember-resistance zone not only helps keep your home safe, but it can also keep you from losing your insurance. When an insurance agent is coming out and doing site inspections of your home, and they see combustible material within this first five feet they’re going to start immediately denying.

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Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Wildfire Damage?

A homeowners insurance policy will cover damage from fire, including wildfire. If your house is damaged by a fire, the policy has several coverage types to help repair or rebuild the home, replace belongings and, if necessary, pay for temporary housing if you can’t live in the home.

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If you live in a geographic area that has a high risk of wildfires, you might have a tough time finding affordable homeowners insurance. Some insurance companies will charge higher premiums, increase deductibles, cap payouts or, in some cases, decline to write insurance policies for homes in high-risk areas, such as parts of California.

If your insurance has high premiums or you’re having difficulty getting the right coverage, it’s a good idea to shop around. Not all insurance companies offer the same types of coverage or charge the same rates. Work with an independent insurance agent who is familiar with the insurance companies in your area.

If you can’t find homeowners insurance, you might need to turn to your state’s Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan. But before you can get a policy through a state’s FAIR plan, you usually need to be declined by a certain number of insurers first.

Insurance through a state FAIR plan isn’t ideal. Plans can be expensive, have lower coverage and may have restricted coverage, meaning you might have to purchase other coverage types (such as liability insurance) from a private insurance company in order to get comprehensive homeowners coverage.

Insurance through a FAIR plan is usually a last resort, so it’s worth your time to shop around and work with an independent insurance agent.

In California, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has ordered the state’s FAIR plan to offer broader coverage options to homeowners who are losing their home insurance because of wildfire risk. He wants the FAIR plan to modernize its policies, which have consisted of a fire-only plan and separate policies for liability and personal property, which drive up the cost.

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Fire Protection Services from Home Insurance Companies

A handful of homeowners insurance companies offer fire protection services for policyholders in wildfire areas. These plans are generally offered only to customers with high-value properties. Here are a few examples:

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AIG Private Client Group Wildfire Protection Services

AIG offers this complimentary service to customers in certain high-risk areas in the U.S. The goal is to pre-empt wildfire damage before it happens. The service includes:

• At-home consultation: Wildfire protection specialists visit the property and assess its vulnerability. In some cases, they can apply an environmentally friendly fire retardant around the perimeter of the property.

• Ongoing monitoring: Specialists track fire behavior, conditions and direction to identify at-risk properties.

• Wildfire mitigation: If access is permitted during a wildfire, specialists can remove combustibles from your property and apply fire retardant to the perimeter.

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Chubb Wildfire Defense

Chubb partnered with Wildfire Defense Systems (WDS) to help protect customers’ homes in select high-risk areas. Chubb’s service includes:

• Year-round service: Specialists will assess a home’s risk and recommend ways to protect your home.

• Protecting homes during a wildfire: If necessary, Chubb will deploy certified fire professionals to your home if a wildfire threatens the area. The team might remove combustible materials and apply fire-blocking gel to the house.

• Recovery after the wildfire has passed: This might include returning any combustible items that were removed from your property and removing fire-blocking gel from the home.

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PURE Programs High Wildfire Risk Homeowners Insurance Program

If you own a high value home in California with a rebuilding cost over $1 million, you may be eligible for coverage through PURE Programs. PURE fire services include:

• Risk management: Your property will be inspected for any vulnerabilities and you’ll get expert advice to better safeguard your home.

• Emergency response services: During an active wildfire, PURE Programs will keep you informed on the wildfire’s movements and, if necessary, dispatch emergency trucks and crews to help protect the home.

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