WHITE MOUNTAINS - Wildfire season is here in Arizona. With it comes dry summer conditions and the danger of fires threatening both national forests and private property in forested areas.
"Each year, during Arizona's wildfire season, thousands of homes, businesses, and other structures are threatened by wildland fires. Including autos, boats and other personal property, the economic losses in 2011 could be in the millions of dollars." Executive Director for Arizona Insurance Council Ron Williams said.
Property owners can do a lot to help keep their property safe from wildfire by taking some simple steps. Arizona Firewise, a cooperative effort of state and federal forest, wildfire and wildlife organizations, has published a booklet called "Living With Wildfire: Homeowner's Firewise Guide for Arizona" to help educate residents about how to lessen the threat of wildfire.
The free online book, available at www.azinsurance.org/WFLinks.html., is a comprehensive review of wildfire behavior, survivable space and Firewise techniques, checklists for various landscaping and housing materials, and emergency guidelines, according to Williams.
Wildfire prevention tips:
• If the home is on flat land surrounded by grassland, create a 30-foot defensible space around the home. If the home sits on a slope with adjacent vegetation that is dense or has tall brush, create defensible space of at least 200 feet.
• Prune trees near structures and remove excess ground fuels such as fallen needles, cones and branches,
• Pile firewood and other flammables well away from home and other structures,
• Keep access roads free of debris and vegetation to improve access and escape in case of fire,
• Clean debris from roofs and gutters, and
• Consider constructing or renovating with fire resistant building materials.
Williams says a thorough policy check-up is also essential in protecting residential and business property and belongings.
Policy holders should contact their agent or insurance company to determine if they have the proper level of coverage and/or to make arrangements for sufficient coverage.
Key points to go over with insurance companies or agents:
• Does the policy cover the current costs of rebuilding? The increases in cost for lumber, steel, concrete and copper have significantly outpaced other products. Those price increases affect what insurers pay to repair and rebuild homes and the costs of satisfying those claims is shared by all homeowner insurance consumers.
• Does the policy provide coverage for additional living expenses, such as hotel bills and restaurant meals for the time you are evacuated from your home and/or while your home is being rebuilt?
• Is the insurance company or agent aware of any improvements made on your home or business, like updating a kitchen, new carpeting or installing a swimming pool thus adding value to the property. The same applies to business improvements.
• Have electrical system or plumbing system upgrades, or installed anti-theft alarms or fire sprinklers installed by the home or business owner been noted? Such improvements could help reduce insurance premiums depending on insurance company business practices.
These and other insurance tips are available at AIC's Web site at www.azinsurance.org.
Reach the writer at mleiby@wmicentral.com
