How to Protect Your Property This Wildfire Season
by Annie Duden
Hotter summers and declining precipitation levels are contributing to more frequent wildfires, longer wildfire seasons and larger fires — and more are anticipated. Average annual temperatures across Oregon increased 2°F since 1895 and are projected to increase by 4.8°F by 2050.
The change is so dramatic that the College of Forestry at Oregon State University recently developed an updated wildfire hazard map of the state. Individual insurance carriers are also widening wildfire risk zones.
Consequently, carriers are excluding certain Oregon zip codes from their coverage lines or excluding wildfire damage from policies altogether. If wildfire damages are covered, higher deductibles are a common caveat. In this increasingly volatile landscape, it’s vital to proactively mitigate your property’s wildfire risk.
4 ways to mitigate your wildfire risk
Planning ahead can potentially save your property from major financial and structural damage. Here are four wildfire damage deterrent measures to implement in your Oregon business or residence’s risk mitigation strategy:
- Clear brush from the perimeter
Brush, leaves and other debris are prime wildfire fuel. Allowing these materials to accumulate around your building can increase its susceptibility to catching fire. Much of the risk arises from the embers that burning brush can produce. A surprisingly high number of buildings burn from the inside out because of embers entering through outside vents.
Clean roof surfaces and gutters regularly to avoid accumulation of pine needles, leaves, branches, etc. Add clearing brush to your property management plans. Complete this task at the beginning of May when temperatures begin to rise and wildfire season commences.
TIP: During wildfires, firefighter crews often do preventative work on insurance carriers’ behalf to protect properties from wildfires. This may involve taping up vents to make sure embers don’t enter homes, removing brush and spraying biodegradablefoamgel. Taking the initiative to do this yourself means that you may have a better chance of avoiding an insurance claim altogether.
- Use fire resistive building materials
The roof and external structure should be constructed of fire-resistant materials such as tile, slate, brick or stone.
Keep trees trimmed often and away from structures. Do not keep wood pilings near the structures. Always keep hose connected to water.
- Perform controlled burns regularly
Municipalities and the National Park Service are typically responsible for performing controlled burns. This process involves burning the dry underbrush and dead material that accumulates in forests. It’s designed to reduce the amount of fuel available for wildfires to consume and prevent wildfires from getting out of control.
Make sure your local government regularly conducts controlled burns in your area. Additionally, you can perform controlled burns on your property if you own a significant amount of acreage. Check with your local fire department for guidelines and regulations before starting a controlled burn.
- Work with a knowledgeable broker
Communicating the right narrative to carriers or underwriters is key to getting the right policy and price. Work with a broker who knows the area and its wildfire risks well to ensure you get the appropriate coverage. The right broker will advocate for your interests and get wildfire defense coverage added to your policy.
Wildfire defense coverage includes a wildfire response team that performs risk management tasks like clearing brush and spraying foam gel. Most carriers now automatically include this coverage in a homeowners insurance plan in high-risk areas.
Having this coverage can make all the difference in protecting your property from wildfire damage, and a knowledgeable broker can fight to keep you covered by conveying your story to underwriters.
Case in point: Recently, this approach was applied when working with a business owner who had a second home in the upper Northwest. Last year, they paid $9,000 for their homeowner’s coverage. Due to the high risk of wildfires in the area, their carrier would not renew their coverage and they were only offered a $45,000 policy from a non-admitted market. Performing due diligence, including calling their local fire department and learning they had two fireboats 500-yards in front of the property, ready for use in their local area to prevent damage should there be a wildfire, and subsequently sharing this story and more with the underwriter resulted in an $11,000 policy in the admitted market for the property owner.
- Consider the non-admitted market
While often a last resort option, the non-admitted market is a perfectly acceptable route, if necessary. Insurers in the non-admitted market have been state-approved, and they often provide coverage that admitted carriers do not. The goal is to rely on the non-admitted market for a year before attempting to return to the admitted market.
Keep in mind many carriers have their own non-admitted markets. If your current carrier chooses not to renew your insurance policy, ask them if they have a non-admitted market you can enter. Otherwise, seek out a new non-admitted carrier.
TIP: Purchasing insurance from a non-admitted carrier may require you to perform more risk management-related tasks to keep premium costs down in the first year. Paying a higher deductible, self-insuring or excluding wildfire coverage altogether are all possibilities.
It pays to be prepared
Trends point toward a rise in wildfire risk this season, so it’s now more important than ever to protect your property. While the hope is for a mild wildfire season, preparedness always pays off.
About the author
Annie Duden is a private risk advisor specializing in marketing and designing comprehensive insurance solutions to protect personal assets. She has 25 years of experience in the insurance industry. Her passion lies in building strong, lasting relationships with her clients, ensuring that their needs are met with personalized care and expertise. Annie is a 6th generation Oregonian, and has deep roots in the community along with a strong commitment to serving her clients.
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