Arizona State Forester Kirk Rowdabaugh spoke to the Arizona Insurance Council (AIC) Monday, April 14th about the growing risk of wildfires in the state. “Drought, higher average temperatures, increased natural fuels and wildland urban interface are creating a perfect storm in terms of catastrophic wildfires,” Mr. Rowdabaugh said. “Currently there are 220 Arizona communities on a list of those that are most at risk for wildfires.”

The 2002 Rodeo-Chediski fire burnt over 468,000 acres and had insured losses of $125 million. “The trend line is clear, more acres in Arizona will be burned,” Rowdabaugh said, and the damage to property will increase.

Rowdabaugh said the insurance industry is on “the front lines of educating the public about wildfire dangers because it has the direct relationship with landowners.” He praised Arizona insurers for being ahead of other state insurers in their support for wildfire education and loss mitigation efforts.

AIC committed the insurance industry to expand its partnership with the state in educating the public on wildfire safety and insurance messages.

Click here to see his PowerPoint presentation