Memorial Day Weekend: Time to Make Your Finances & Property More Wildfire Resilient

_{California's Sandy and River fires good reminders to protect your home & finances}

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - As fire fighters battle the Sandy and River wildfires and thousands of Californians remain evacuated, Memorial Day Weekend is a timely reminder for homeowners to take steps now to reduce wildfire risk and review their financial protection. Preparing your home and ensuring adequate insurance coverage can help reduce damage and speed recovery after a wildfire, according to the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA).

"Intensifying drought conditions are setting up much of the West for another severe wildfire season in 2026. Now is the time to prepare-we must learn how to live with wildfire," said Karen Collins, APCIA vice president, property and environmental. "Safety first! Homeowners should start by creating a five-foot ember resistant 'safety zone' around the home to reduce ignition risk. Next, call your insurance agent or company for a quick coverage review to ensure adequate financial resources are in place to rebuild your home."

Reports indicate the continental U.S. is experiencing one of the driest starts to a year in more than a century, driven by limited spring rainfall and historically low snowpack in some regions. Drought conditions now cover 60 percent of the country, with more than 20 percent classified as extreme drought.

As a result, wildfire activity is already elevated: nearly 1.9 million acres have burned through mid-May-almost double the 10-year average for this point in the year.

With 32 percent of homes located in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and peak wildfire season ahead many communities are facing significant wildfire risk with potential for larger, more intense fires.

"Enemy number one: flying embers are the leading cause of home ignitions during a wildfire. Now is the time to create defensible space around homes. Clearing that critical five-foot safety zone around the home of combustible materials makes it so embers have nothing to land on and ignite," said Collins. "The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety provides a lot of resources for residents in western states to prepare your home against flying embers."

Inflation has climbed 28% since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, however residential construction inflation remains much higher. The cost to rebuild a home has increased 47% for construction labor and materials, on a cumulative basis since January 2020.

"Higher rebuilding costs mean many homeowners may be financially unprepared after a loss without realizing it. We urge all homeowners to call their agent or insurer to review their policy and adjust coverage as needed," said Collins. "Talk to your agent about your coverage limits, the type of policy and coverage you have, and coverage options like extended replacement cost coverage, automatic inflation guard coverage and updated building code coverage. These can help ensure you have enough protection to fully rebuild. We also encourage homeowners and renters to create a home inventory. Using a smartphone to take photos or a quick video of each room can help document belongings, making the claims process smoother and faster."

Resources to Safeguard Your Home Against Wildfire:

APCIA's www.My-Resilient-Home.com

CAL FIRE - Ready for Wildfire - www.readyforwildfire.org

IBHS's- W ildfire Prepared Home™ Designation Program - www.wildfireprepared.org

APCIA offers 5 Tips on Ember-Resistant Zones, Being Wildfire Ready, and Home Inventories

Create an Ember-Resistant Zone Around Your Home

Tip 1: Zone 1 - Create a five-foot noncombustible zone around your home and deck. Keep mulch and plants away from your home. Remove dead trees and shrubs.

Tip 2: Check your deck & roof - Keep your gutters and roof clear of debris and leaves. Remove combustibles from on, under, and around decks.

Tip 3: Scrutinize your siding. There should be six inches of noncombustible materials between the ground and the start of the siding.

Tip 4: Upgrade your vents & fence - Upgrade the vents around your house to 1/8^th inch metal mesh. Replace your dryer vent to a self-closing vent. Replace wood fences with metal fence within five feet touching the home.

Tip 5: Close your eaves -If your home has open-eave construction, enclose open eaves whenever you have an opportunity in construction. With open-eave construction, use caulk to plug gaps between exposed rafter tails and blocking.