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wildfire coverage and insurance for wildfires

The Ultimate Guide to XINSURANCE Wildfire Coverage

In 2017, devastating wildfires destroyed homes and businesses in Santa Rosa and San Diego, California. The cost of damage incurred from these wildfires exceeded ten billion dollars. And in 2021, there were 58,733 fires that burned over 7 million acres.

If your home is damaged or destroyed because of a wildfire, will homeowner’s insurance cover it? Keep reading to learn about wildfire coverage and how to protect your home.

What Are Wildfires?

Wildfires can be caused by lightning strikes, arson, illegal burning, and more. However, humans are the cause of 84 percent of wildfires.

Wildfires can cause several different types of damage to your home. A wildfire can burn the exterior, interior, or both. A wildfire can also burn the surrounding area, which is called a “crown fire.”

When a wildfire burns the surrounding area, something called a “spot fire” is created. Spot fires can be as small as a few feet or as large as 50 feet. Spot fires can be challenging to contain.

Where are Wildfires Most Common?

Wildfires are most common in the western and southwestern portions of the United States. The top states with the most properties at risk from wildfires are listed below.

  1. California
  2. Texas
  3. Colorado
  4. Arizona
  5. Idaho
  6. Washington
  7. Oklahoma
  8. Oregon
  9. Montana
  10. Utah
  11. New Mexico
  12. Nevada
  13. Wyoming

Does a Standard Homeowner’s Policy Cover Insurance for Wildfires?

Many people assume that their homeowner’s insurance will automatically cover wildfires. However, that’s not always true. It can sometimes be challenging to find good insurance coverage at an affordable price when you live in an area where wildfires are common.

When you’re purchasing insurance, it’s important to check for wildfire coverage. If it’s not covered, you need to buy additional coverage for wildfires to protect your home.

You’ll find additional coverage for wildfires under ‘all perils’ policies.

All Perils Policy

An all-perils policy covers damages caused by all events, including flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires.

In an all-perils policy, it’s vital that you read the fine print. You want to make sure that “all perils” include wildfire, as well as earthquakes and other natural disasters.

What Coverages Should a Wildfire Insurance Policy Include?

There are a few key things you’ll want to make sure that your wildfire insurance policy covers. This will help reduce the financial loss you experience if a wildfire destroys your home.

Structure of Your Home and Contents

Wildfires can melt vinyl siding and destroy your home’s structure. If a wildfire damages your home’s structure, you’ll need to replace your walls, windows, and roofs. Make sure you purchase wildfire insurance that includes coverage for your home’s structure and your belongings.

In recent years wildfires have destroyed tens of thousands of dollars worth of property and millions of acres of land. Just in 2021, 58,985 fires affected 7.1 million acres of land.

If your home gets caught in the path of a devastating fire, you need to know it’s protected.

Your Belongings

Fire can destroy your home and its contents in a matter of minutes. If your home should burn down, you’ll need to replace everything from your furniture to your wall decorations.

It can be difficult to determine how much everything is worth. To protect your belongings, purchase a minimum amount of content coverage through your wildfire insurance policy.

Additional Living Expenses

If a wildfire damages your home to the point that you can’t live there, you’ll need to live someplace else. If you need to stay in a hotel for several months, you’ll rack up a hefty bill.

Purchasing additional living expenses coverage from your wildfire policy could limit your spending on out-of-pocket costs.

Vandalism and Theft

If a wildfire destroys your home and belongings, it’s possible for someone to steal your valuables. To protect your home and possessions from vandalism and theft, purchase a vandalism and theft policy. This will provide you with coverage for both types of criminal activity.

Landscaping

If your home is damaged in a wildfire, your landscaping could be destroyed. To repair your landscaping, you’ll need to remove the dead brush, plant new grass and flowers, repair your retaining walls, and replace all of the damaged landscaping equipment. The cost of repairing your landscaping can add up quickly.

To prevent this, ensure your wildfire insurance policy includes landscaping coverage.

What Should You Do After a Wildfire?

After a wildfire destroys your home, you’ll need to take steps to file a claim. Contact your insurance professional as soon as possible. In addition, don’t throw anything away, and make sure you understand what your insurance company needs from you. Remember that many insurance companies have time limits for filing claims, and make sure you don’t miss that time limit.

Shopping for Wildfire Insurance Coverage

If you’re shopping for wildfire insurance, make sure that you work with a trusted insurance broker or agent. They will help you find the best policy to meet your needs.

How Do You Find a Good Agent or Broker?

When you start looking for an insurance broker or agent, request several references from trusted individuals, such as friends and family members.

Make sure to ask the broker or agent questions regarding how long they’ve been in business, how active they are, and what type of policy they like to recommend.

How Do You Choose a Good Policy?

Be sure to compare several policies before making your final selection.

Compare the amount of coverage each policy offers, the deductible, and the cost of the policy. Once you have a list of policies that meet your needs, ask your broker for their opinion and reasons why they prefer one policy over another.

Make sure your homeowners policy includes coverage for wildfires, wind, flood, earthquake, mudslides, and more, depending on where you live and what you need. Wildfire coverage should include coverage for a fire or even smoke damage claims that are from a wildfire. There are large claims from smoke damage where there is no actual damage from fire to any of the structures.

Find a Wildfire Coverage Solution Today

Wildfires cause devastating damage every year. Make sure you’re covered by choosing a solution that meets your needs.

XINSURANCE is a trusted insurance broker that’s been around for over 40 years. Contact us today at 877-585-2853 or info@xinsurance.com and let us help you find the right solution for your wildfire coverage.


Rick LindseyAuthored by Rick J. Lindsey, President, Chairman, and CEO of XINSURANCE

Rick J. Lindsey hails from Salt Lake City, Utah. He began working in the mailroom of his father’s Salt Lake City insurance firm, getting his introduction to the business that became his lifelong career. Rick J. Lindsey quickly rose through the ranks while working in nearly every imaginable insurance industry job. As an entrepreneur, specialty lines underwriter, claims specialist, risk manager, and a licensed surplus lines broker, Rick J. Lindsey is highly skilled in all levels of leadership and execution. As he progressed on his career path, Rick J. Lindsey discovered an urgent need for insurers willing to write policies for high-risk individuals and businesses. He was frequently frustrated that he could not provide the liability protection these entities desperately needed to safeguard their assets. He also formed the belief that insurance companies acted too quickly to settle frivolous claims. Rick J. Lindsey decided to try a different approach. He started an insurance company and became the newly formed entity’s CEO. This opportunity has enabled Rick J. Lindsey to fill a void in the market and provide a valuable service to businesses, individuals, and insurance agents who write high-risk business. XINSURANCE also specializes in helping individuals and businesses who live a lifestyle or participate in activities that make them difficult for traditional carriers to insure. If you’ve been denied, non-renewed, or canceled coverage, don’t give up quite yet. Chances are XINSURANCE can help.