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Home Special Sections Relocation

Wildfire Season is Upon Us

June 4, 2019
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Wildfires Make Homeowner’s Insurance Harder to Come By

In Western states and other parts of the country that are prone to wildfires, homeowner’s insurance is getting harder to come by and insurance companies are requiring policyholders to tend to the space around their homes to reduce the chances of the house going up in flames.

If the policyholder doesn’t comply, they risk having their coverage non-renewed or see their rates increase.

Some insurance companies have started pulling out of certain areas that are prone to wildfire, or they are only writing coverage for homes whose owners have made a “defensible space” around their homes. These spaces are designed to keep combustible landscaping and structures away from the house, and they stretch for more than 100 feet.

Shopping around for home insurance now requires planning and patience on the part of homeowners. Here’s why:

Some insurers have pulled out of some areas. Others have cut back on the number of homes they will insure in a certain area or region in order to manage their exposure to future wildfire claims.

Since 2014, more than 15,000 homeowners in medium or extreme fire-risk areas in California have turned to the state’s lender of last resort, the California Fair Access to Insurance Requirements Plan, which was created to serve people unable to find coverage elsewhere.

Prices are increasing. Because of the increasing frequency of wildfires, homeowner’s insurers have been raising rates to account for the higher risk homes in the West face, as well as higher rebuilding costs.

More selective underwriting. Instead of ceasing to issue new homeowner’s policies altogether, many insurers are only choosing to write policies for homeowners who have taken steps to reduce the chances of a fire.

Securing coverage

Insurance companies now use satellite data to assess fire risk at a given location. They use tools that weigh factors such as topography, vegetation, wind patterns and accessibility.

There’s been an increase in insurance companies doing inspections before they will renew a policy or insure a new home.

This is happening most often in neighborhoods known as “urban-wildland interface zones” and areas considered to be at risk for wildfires.  The insurer will either send its own staff or contract with an outside inspector.

After an inspection, the insurer will either decline to extend coverage, accept it with no additional stipulations or require that the homeowner make certain repairs or improvements if they want coverage. This depends on the insurance company.

Typical improvements

Here’s what you can do to make your home more insurable in a wildfire-prone area:

The structure

  • Roof – Roofs made of wood or shingles are at high risk in a wildfire. Reroof with composite shingles, metal or tile if you can. Eaves and downspouts should be protected with fire-resistant or non-combustible materials.
  • Windows – Replace single-pane glass windows with dual-pane glass, to reduce chances of breakage in a fire.
  • Vents – Vents on homes create openings for flying embers. Cover all vent openings with inch metal mesh. Do not use fiberglass or plastic mesh, as it can melt and burn.
  • Siding – Wooden boards, panels and shingles are combustible. Your home will be better protected by building materials such as stucco, fiber cement, wall siding, fire retardant, treated wood, or other approved materials.

Defensible area

One of the keys to the defensible space around your home is making sure that all plants are well watered and not dying and dry. Use the following three-ring approach to minimize fire risk:

Very near home: In the first 5 feet surrounding any structure, avoid anything flammable – this includes plantings, but also mulch, woodpiles, and furniture, decorative items, and stored items. There should be no trees in this area.

6-30 feet from home: Use low ground cover such as mown grass, flowers, vegetables and mulch. Plants should be watered as needed and routinely maintained to remove dead/dry material. Remove all dead plants, grass and weeds. Remove dead or dry leaves and pine needles from your yard, as well as from roof and rain gutters. Trim trees to at least 10 feet away from the house.

31-100+ feet from home: Shrubs and trees should be well spaced and pruned to eliminate fuel ladders, where fire can climb from a ground fire to an ember-producing crown fire. Cut or mow annual grass down to a maximum height of 4 inches.  Create vertical spacing between grass, shrubs and trees.

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LOCAL NEWS: The Northern Arizona VA in Prescott has provided an update on their Homeless Veteran Program. . . .PRESCOTT, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona VA Health Care System’s Homeless Veteran Program, along with its community partners, housed 445 Veterans in 2022, exceeding their target goal by 157%.Nationally, the 2022 goal was to house 38,000 homeless Veterans— a goal that was exceeded by 6.3%. The Department of Veterans Affairs remains committed to ending Veteran homelessness and increasing housing placements is critical to achieving this goal.“This success is a result of efforts built on the evidence-based ‘Housing First’ approach, which prioritizes getting a Veteran into housing, then provides the Veteran with the support they need to stay housed,” said Steve Sample, Medical Center Director.In Northern Arizona, there are a variety of services designed to house homeless Veterans. The VA’s Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program includes VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers that provide formerly homeless Veterans with subsidized housing and a wraparound, interdisciplinary case management team to address issues that may have contributed to homelessness. The program provides justice outreach services, employment services, health care services through the Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team, outreach, and transitional housing support. The VA also works closely with community partners to house homeless Veterans through a system called Coordinated Entry, where community agencies along with the VA regularly meet to coordinate efforts and ensure homeless Veterans do not fall through the cracks.“We are fortunate that there is so much support for helping homeless Veterans in our area,” said Jessica Taylor, Homeless Program Coordinator for the Northern Arizona VA. “This success could not have been possible without great collaboration between our community partners, Housing Authorities, Tribal partnerships, and support from our local communities.”Looking ahead, the VA will continue to explore new avenues to house homeless Veterans and overcome housing barriers. In collaboration with U.S VETS, Gorman & Company, and the Arizona Department of Housing, a supportive housing project on the grounds of the VA’s Fort Whipple campus is in the initial planning stages. The VA is also expanding outreach to ensure that homeless Veterans are aware of services available to them. For Veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness— or if you know of homeless Veterans in need of assistance, call 877-424-3838.For more information on renting to or hiring homeless Veterans, visit: www.va.gov/homelessAbout the Northern Arizona VA: Through its main campus in Prescott, along with Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in Cottonwood, Flagstaff, Kingman, Lake Havasu City, and Anthem— with additional clinics in Tuba City, Page, Kayenta, Chinle, Holbrook, and Polacca, the Northern Arizona VA provides services to approximately 33,000 Veterans over a catchment area of more than 65,000 square miles.. . .www.facebook.com/VAPrescott ... See MoreSee Less

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Prescott Living Magazine

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Empty Bowls of Prescott Arizona has announced that it will distribute $24,000 to local foodbanks! Their 2022 Empty Bowls fundraising event took place in September, and donations can be made year round on their website.prescott-empty-bowls.square.site ... See MoreSee Less

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