Mid-August started the surge of wildfires across California, sweeping through the majority of the state. Now, Oregon and Washington are being heavily impacted as well. As of Thursday, September 10th, one hundred large fires have burned more than 4.5 million acres in 12 states.[1]
Over 3,000 structures have been destroyed from the wildfires that began on August 17th, originally sparked from lightning strikes. The increase of this rapid spread is enhanced from the humidity and rare heat wave the state is experiencing at this time. It has continued to spread into more territories across the northwest as we have seen over the past week.[2]
Most of California has been affected by the fires whether from homes or businesses being lost, having to evacuate, or the intense smoke that is engulfing the sky. Turning cities into an orange haze of smoke. Even though this is happening on the other side of the United States from us here in Florida it is still very important to keep in mind wildfire precautions.
In 2019 Florida had over 2,000 wildfires. We may not be quite up there with California, which had over 8,000 last year, however it is still best to be prepared in the event of fire damage, whether it’s from a wildfire, kitchen fire, or lightening strike. Making sure you know how your home insurance protects you in the event of any type of fire damage will give you a peace of mind and make a stressful event less stressful.[3]
What Will Insurance Cover When It Comes to Fire Damage?
When it comes to what home insurance will cover in the event of wildfire damage it is best to ask for specifics from your provider. To start, here are the basic items that are generally covered by property insurance: the structure of your home, your belongings inside and out of the home, the cost of staying in a hotel, and eating out due to being misplaced.
Given 90% of fires are started by humans you will want to confirm with your home insurance company how this is covered under your policy. Insurance coverage for a house fire, wildfire, or fire started by a lightning strike will vary depending on your policy.
Unlike with hurricanes having time to prepare and remove important belongings, fires may come quickly, sweeping through your home destroying personal property. We recommend you take time to catalog your personal belongings at least once per year. Start by reading our previous article addressing cataloging a home, Three Ways to Track Your Home Inventory.
Do you have further questions about property protection or previous property damage that still needs to be resolved? Give us a call and one of our highly trained team members can assist you with your specific issues. 954-737-2673
Ways to Help Californian’s Impacted by Recent Wildfires
Below are two organizations that are collecting donations to help our west coast neighbors whose homes and businesses have been impacted by the wildfires:
California Community Foundation
According to its website, “In the aftermath of a disaster, immediate needs for victims can include shelter, food, cash and other basic needs. A community’s recovery is often more complex and depends on the scope of the disaster and an affected community’s specific context and needs. For these reasons, the California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Relief Fund supports both mid-term to long-term recovery efforts for those affected by California wildfires.”
According to its website, “Recovering from a wildfire takes time and a diverse network of organizations and services to make sure people have the help they need.” Donations go toward helping those in need with shelter, meals, emergency response, relief supplies, medical care, and recovery plans.
[1] National Interagency Fire Center. (2020, September 11). Retrieved September 11, 2020, from https://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/nfn.htm
[2] Facts Statistics: Homeowners and renters insurance. Insurance Information Institute (n.d.). Retrieved September 11, 2020, from https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-homeowners-and-renters-insurance
[3] Facts Statistics: Homeowners and renters insurance. Insurance Information Institute (n.d.). Retrieved September 11, 2020, from https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-homeowners-and-renters-insurance
