Tips for insureds on how to prepare finances during wildfire season:

Read and understand your insurance policy. The typical homeowners' policy covers damage caused by wind, fire, and lightning. Comprehensive coverage under the auto insurance policy generally covers damage or destruction to a vehicle from a fire.
Review your insurance policy regularly with an insurance company or agent. Prevent underinsurance by having inflation guard coverage, extended replacement cost coverage, and building code upgrade coverage. Also, consider increasing additional living expense coverage.
If you have recently remodeled added a new addition onto your property, be sure to increase the amount of protection to cover the upgraded materials or expanded square footage.
Talk about types of insurance policies and learn the difference between a replacement cost policy, which generally provides for the repair or replacement of damaged covered personal property items, and an actual cash value policy that will only provide reimbursement for the depreciated value of the covered personal property item. Make sure your policy reflects the right amount of square footage and features.
Create and keep an inventory of personal items and photograph or videotape them for documentation and claims purposes. Be specific: document how many TVs, computers, sets of towels and sheets, and other items you have. The more details recorded, the easier recovery will be. Keep receipts for major purchases and keep records of the age, current value, make, model, and serial number of personal property. Keep inventory and a copy of your insurance policy at another location.

Tips on how to prepare and protect property:

Create 100 feet of defensible space around the home by clearing dead brush, grass, and shrubs. Defensible space can slow the spread of a fire and help keep firefighters safe.
Clean out leaves, pine needles, and dirt that may have collected in rain gutters or on roofs.
Cut back tree branches that hang over the house or near the chimney and create six feet of clearance between the ground and tree branches.
Consider landscaping with fire-resistant trees and shrubs, such as deciduous trees and low-growing shrubs.
Remove any wood piles or wooden playhouses against homes or structures.
Keep operational fire extinguishers in kitchens.
Install new batteries in fire and smoke alarms.
Comply with building codes and use fire-resistant materials.
Create a family plan and hold family evacuation drills. Make sure your family knows what actions to take if a fire breaks out. Include plans for pets.
Identify family valuables and treasures you can gather in a short time span.

Fire prevention tips:

Don't toss burning cigarettes out into dry brush areas or out of a car.
Don't light fireworks near dry brush; keep buckets of water nearby.
Supervise children closely near fireworks displays.
Be sure campfires are completely put out and doused with water and cannot relight.
Be careful with controlled burns; severe weather can cause a normal burn to become out of control.
Be cautious with mowing equipment on dry brush — one spark can ignite a wildfire.

Visit www.readyforwildfire.org to learn more about how to prepare finances and property for wildfires.

Special Reports /

Heat wave raises wildfire risk ahead of July Fourth celebrations

Related Stories

Recommended For You