May is Wildfire Awareness Month, It’s Never too Early to Prepare

Sacramento, Calif. – Last year saw a record-breaking wildfire season with five of the 10 largest wildfires in California. As we enter into another drought, just four years after the last, now is the time to prepare homes and communities for the coming wildfire season.

Ahead of Wildfire Awareness Month this May, leaders at the forefront of wildfire preparedness efforts offered comments and resources stressing the importance for homeowners and neighborhoods to be proactive; implement mitigation at the home, community and regional levels; and ensure that homeowners insurance policies are up to date.

“While it is not possible to eliminate wildfire risk, we are not powerless against it. We must come together as communities and homeowners with a pragmatic approach to mitigate risk at all levels and ultimately reduce property damage,” said Roy Wright, President and CEO of the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety.

One thing we know is that wildfire risk cannot be addressed by one home alone. In recent years, California has seen embers from powerful, wind-driven fires travel as far as a mile away. In this situation, the key to wildfire preparation is in comprehensive, community and regional solutions.

“When it comes to wildfire, no single person alone can protect a community. Residents throughout California are joining forces to create local Fire Safe Councils to effectively reduce and prevent wildfire losses,” said Kate Dargan, Board Co-Chair of the California Fire Safe Council. “Working together, local Fire Safe Councils are here to help you and your neighbors with grant funding and education for wildfire mitigation.”

In addition to mitigation, home insurance is a critical safety net for homeowners’ wildfire preparedness plans. Taking simple steps to understand and maintain a home insurance policy can make all the difference should disaster strike in the future.

“Knowing your home insurance policy is a huge part of being wildfire ready. Simple steps such as completing an annual home insurance check-up, ensuring your policy coverage is adequate and making sure your home inventory is up-to-date can make a huge difference should disaster strike,” said Janet Ruiz, Director of Strategic Communication for the Insurance Information Institute.