More than 4.5 million U.S. homes have been identified as being at high or extreme risk of wildfire, according to Verisk Analytics, a data analytics company that assesses insurance risk. Last year, 3,577 homes were destroyed by wildfires, according to data from the National Interagency Fire Center.
That particularly impacts Arizona, as well as much of the Southwest, Midwest and Western U.S., as they are experiencing hotter and drier conditions due to a prolonged drought. The kind of conditions where fires ignite more easily and spread more rapidly, with fire seasons now considered year-round, according to Karen Collins, a spokesperson for the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA).
But droughts and excessive heat aren’t the only concerns, since people rank as the #1 cause of wildfires, according to data from the Wildland Fire Management Information and U.S. Forest Service Research Data Archives. Many wildfires are started by discarded cigarettes, unattended campfires, burning debris, malfunctioning or improperly used equipment, and arson.
You may find some solace in knowing that a standard manufactured homeowner’s insurance policy covers damage from fires. Want to learn more about wildfires and homeowners insurance?
