NU Online News Service

Chubb Personal Insurance home policyholders, whose houses arethreatened by a wildfire, can have their properties sprayed with afire-protecting gel for free, the company announced.

Mark Schussel, a spokesman for the Warren, N.J.-based ChubbGroup of Insurance Companies, said that in order to get theservice, policyholders must first enroll, "because we needauthorization to come on your property." There is no cost to signup, he noted.

To provide the protection in advance of this year's fire season,the company said, it has established "the nation's largest privatewildfire protection network in 13 states."

"We will have a network of trucks," said Mr. Schussel.

Chubb explained it has signed an agreement with Wildfire DefenseSystems Inc., a Montana-based firm operating under a federalcontract for wildfire suppression in the Western United States.

It said the service will be available in Arizona, California,Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon,South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

The trucks will carry Thermo-Gel 200L, a ForestService-approved, environmentally-friendly gel produced by ThermoTechnologies LLC, of Bismarck, N.D.

According to the Thermo-Gel Web site, the gel, when appliedproperly, provides the homeowner "with a blanket of water that willadhere to vertical surfaces, windows, soffits and all types ofsurfaces."

It says further that the product is approved by the U.S. ForestService and is safe on trees and vegetation.

Mr. Schussel said that after the event, the company will removethe gel from the property.

Scott Spencer, senior vice president of Chubb & Son, andworldwide loss prevention manager for Chubb Personal Insurance,said in a statement announcing the program that, "Our customers nowcan have the peace of mind knowing that they can be protected bythe very same people and equipment that fight forest fires for thegovernment and by the very best retardant available."

All Chubb homeowners customers in the affected states are beingmailed enrollment forms, the company said.

"We encourage all our customers to enroll now. As wildfiresapproach, it will become increasingly difficult for them to locateand contact other available fire mitigation resources," said Mr.Spencer. "In addition, the customers who use the service will haveno out-of-pocket expenses."

Customers who do not enroll can be reimbursed up to $5,000 forother services they retain to help protect their homes when awildfire is within three miles of their homes or a civil authorityinitiates an evacuation order as a result of an approachingwildfire, Chubb said.

Mr. Schussel said the company has been looking for a solution tohome fire danger as more and more houses are located in wildfireprone areas. He said the insurer has provided advice andinspections telling homeowners about the dangers of wood-shingleroofs, the need to clear away brush and other steps.

"You can address the risk, but if a neighbor doesn't, thensparks can fly from a mile or two away," he said. Referring to thegel, he said, "we believe this is the best product out there."