As you know, fire insurance has been an important topic & concern! There are a lot of changes that you need to be aware of and what you can do to keep your home safe and keep the cost of your insurance premiums down!
Contact me if you need a great roofer or any assistance finding a company to cover your home too!
Rumor
Wildfires only threaten rural or forested areas.
Reality
Recent disasters have shown that urban and suburban communities—especially those near wildland-urban interfaces (WUIs)—can be seriously impacted by wildfires. Embers can travel long distances, sparking fires far from where they started.
Rumor
All homeowners insurance automatically includes fire coverage.
Reality
While many standard policies cover some fire damage, insurers often exclude fire coverage in high-risk wildfire zones. If you live in such an area, you may need a separate fire insurance policy or coverage through programs like the California FAIR Plan.
Rumor
You can’t get fire insurance in California anymore because of wildfire risk.
Reality
Although some insurers have pulled out or reduced coverage in high-risk areas, fire insurance is still available. The California FAIR Plan offers basic fire protection for those who can’t find coverage elsewhere, but additional policies may be necessary for full protection.
Rumor
The California FAIR Plan gives you full insurance coverage.
Reality
The FAIR Plan only covers fire and smoke damage—it doesn’t protect against things like liability, theft, vandalism, flooding, or earthquakes. To close those gaps, homeowners often need a supplemental “difference in conditions” (DIC) policy.
Rumor
It’s easy to get fire insurance in California.
Reality
In recent years, securing fire insurance has become more difficult. Major insurers like State Farm and Allstate have significantly scaled back their offerings in the state. Homeowners need to carefully review and update their coverage to stay protected.
Rumor
There’s nothing I can do to help my home survive a wildfire.
Reality
Every part of your home can be at risk, so it's important to take action. Use ignition-resistant materials and create a defensible space of at least 100 feet around your home by clearing away dead plants, weeds, and dry grass.
Whether you are up in the mountains of Los Altos Hills or Palo Alto, down by the bay in Mountain View or Sunnyvale, or anywhere in between in the San Francisco Bay Area, please consider me your go-to resource for all things home! I don't claim to be an expert in everything, but I am always willing to help.
LYNN NORTH
LIC.# 01490039
The Agency Los Altos