As homeowners survey the damage from the wildfires that tore through Southern California this month, it’s tough to peg how much it will cost to rebuild. CoreLogic, a real estate data firm, estimates $35 to $45 billion in losses.
While insurers need time to sift through claims and issue payouts, it’s become clear that many homeowners might not be compensated for wildfire damages or losses at all.
According to data from the National Interagency Fire Center, more than 61,000 wildfires burned more than 8.8 million acres in the US last year. As wildfire risks increase, insurance policies are either denying claims or refusing coverage entirely. State Farm, for example, canceled around 1,600 homeowner policies in the Pacific Palisades months before the devastating fires.
Read on to learn more about how wildfire insurance works, who can get it and what to do if you’re struggling to find coverage.
Does my insurance cover wildfires?
Today, protection from wildfire damage depends on where you live. Homeowners in low-risk areas are likely covered, whereas those in high-risk areas might not be.
The definitions of “low” and “high” risk may vary based on an insurance company’s scoring models, but there are some clues as to how they’ll view your area by referring to FEMA’s risk index map. If you’re looking for a more targeted breakdown of the potential for disaster, enter your property address on FirstStreet.org to understand historical data and future projections about climate risks.
“In most parts of the country, the risk of a wildfire consuming a house is extremely low, so the risk is covered in a traditional homeowner policy,” said Melanie Musson, an insurance expert with InsuranceProviders.com.
Wildfire damage used to be more widely included in most standard homeowners insurance policies, though that changed as wildfires spread more rapidly, according to Aris Papadolopous, founder of the Resilience Action Fund.
“In the last few decades and in high wildfire-risk states, insurers began to exclude wildfire coverage because it was costing them too much in claims,” Papadolopous says.
In most cases, understanding whether you’re protected comes down to two different types of policies, said Michael Ashker, chairman and CEO of FortressFire. With an HO-3 policy, your coverage will include named perils, so look for “wildfire” in the list. With an HO-5 policy, owners are covered against all perils unless something is specifically excluded. In that case, look for a list of events where your losses are not covered.
If you’re still not sure what’s included in your coverage, pick up the phone.
“Check with your insurance company to make sure your policy covers wildfires and whether there is a separate wildfire deductible,” said Jon Godfread, president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Read more: What to Do If You’re Denied Homeowners Insurance
Can I get insurance in wildfire-prone regions?
If you live in a state where you’re constantly stressed about wildfires, be prepared to search for a company that specifically offers wildfire coverage.
If you’ve already received a nonrenewal or cancellation notice for your policy that cites wildfire risks as the reason for your ineligibility, look at your state insurance department’s website to learn about options of last resort, which include coverage choices for homeowners who cannot find a private company willing to accept them. Godfread said that every state has consumer advocates who can assist you in finding the insurance coverage you need.
In California, more homeowners have been steadily turning to the FAIR plan. In 2015, just over 141,000 homeowners, around 1.6% of the state’s entire residential market, had FAIR coverage. By 2023, that number had jumped to nearly 325,000 homeowners, representing 3.7% of the state’s residential properties. By early 2024, the state was receiving more than 1,000 applications each day from homeowners looking for coverage.
According to Musson, though, homeowners looking for FAIR policies “won’t have as many options or as robust coverage as a traditional plan and will often cost twice as much.” They also typically have a lower cap and higher deductible.
If there’s not a FAIR option, you can explore nonadmitted markets, which are often called surplus lines insurers. They may still meet specific state requirements (California, for example, has a list of approved surplus lines insurers), but they operate with a more nuanced approach than traditional insurance companies. For example, you might have a significantly steeper deductible to pay for wildfire damage than you would for other types of damage. In California, over 41,000 homeowners had coverage from surplus lines insurers as of 2023.
In addition to paying close attention to the perils covered in a surplus lines policy, focus on insurance-to-value, according to Ashker. That ratio reflects how much your insurance will pay out compared to the cost of rebuilding the property.
“It is vital that homeowners work with their insurance advisors or insurance carriers to ensure that policy limits reflect the true cost of rebuilding their homes in the event of a total wildfire loss,” Ashker said.
Read more: What to Do When You’re Home Is Destroyed or Damaged by a Wildfire
How can I mitigate wildfire damage to my home?
If you can’t protect your home against potential wildfire damage or losses, you can proactively address some of the biggest building risks that heighten the odds of fire damage.
Experts recommend using noncombustible materials on the roof and siding, such as tile, slate, sheet iron, aluminum, brick or stone.
Landscaping around the property is equally important. CalFire recommends removing vegetation within five feet of windows and glass doors, replacing wood mulch with noncombustible materials such as gravel or stone and regularly cleaning roofs and gutters to remove leaves, needles and other flammable materials.
Is getting wildfire insurance going to get harder?
All signs point to an uphill battle for homeowners struggling to secure the right coverage to protect against wildfires. Based on estimates from the Western Fire Chiefs Association, the risk of extreme fire incidents was 14% in 2023 and is on track to reach 30% by 2050.
If you receive a notice that your wildfire coverage is disappearing, however, don’t immediately despair. If one major insurer has stopped business in a particular area, that doesn’t mean every company has exited the market, according to Godfread.
“If you get a nonrenewal notice, start shopping without delay. An independent agent or broker is a good place to start,” Godfread said.
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Clinton Mora is a reporter for Trending Insurance News. He has previously worked for the Forbes. As a contributor to Trending Insurance News, Clinton covers emerging a wide range of property and casualty insurance related stories.