Wildfire insurance in high fire risk areas:
Living in a high fire risk area, you’re likely to have concerns about wildfire insurance coverage. What are your options? What are the costs? You might worry about whether you can even get insurance if you’re in a high fire risk area.
Installing our system may benefit your insurance coverage, and even lower your premiums, regardless of which insurance carrier you currently have. We do not provide insurance, however Frontline provides information to help you navigate your insurance journey, and offers several financing options.
Scroll down for insurance information & financing options.
How Installing a Frontline System May Benefit Your Insurance
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If you have insurance, installing a Frontline Wildfire Defense System may lower your premiums. We can work with all insurance companies.
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If you need insurance, installing our system may make it easier for you to get a policy and/or get better coverage in a high-risk area.
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If your insurance was canceled due to being in a high-risk area, install a Frontline Wildfire Defense System and request a re-evaluation. You may be able to restore your coverage.
INSURANCE INFORMATION FROM FRONTLINE
Tips on getting wildfire insurance coverage in high fire risk areas.
If you live in a high-risk area and are having trouble finding affordable homeowners insurance, you have a few options for covering your home against fires. High fire risk areas are developments at the edge of urban areas where natural vegetation is abundant, those in higher elevations, and homes in forests.
FAIR ACCESS TO INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS (FAIR) PLANS
Plans that make it possible for homeowners to get property insurance, called FAIR Plans, are available in every state. They’re designed for homeowners who have been turned down by insurance companies in the private market due to their home’s location and risk profile. In addition to fire, FAIR Plans cover other hazards, like vandalism and windstorms.
While these plans do offer coverage against fires and other disasters, they often do not cover essentials like liability, medical payments, and loss of use.
FAIR Plans are meant to provide temporary coverage, typically with a cap on the policy amount, and are very expensive. They’re not a good option for high-value homes. Homeowners with a FAIR Plan should continue shopping for insurance in the private market to try to find an affordable, more comprehensive insurance policy.
SURPLUS OR EXCESS LINES CARRIERS (E&S)
Surplus or excess line carriers (E&S) are insurance providers that cover risks which standard insurance policies refuse to cover. If you can’t find home insurance through the private market due to your fire risk, this kind of coverage may be an option.
E&S policies are not cheap. E&S insurance premiums rose by 20% between 2021 and 2022, marking the fourth straight year of price increases. While regular homeowners insurance has deductibles around $10,000, E&S policy deductibles start at $100,000 and go up from there.
Despite these costs, this option of last resort may be better than nothing for those who cannot get home insurance in high fire risk areas.
PREMIER CARRIERS
Premier carriers offer home insurance for high-value and high-risk properties. They may provide additional benefits like fire prevention and firefighting services. To qualify for one of these policies, your home value must exceed a minimum amount.
More information to help you navigate your insurance journey:
Secure your home with more than just insurance:
Homeowners insurance premiums are rising as more fires create bigger losses for insurance companies. Insurance protects you against financial losses, but it does nothing to actually protect your structure and belongings. Protecting your home from the flames is better than waiting for an insurance payment after you’ve lost everything.
That’s why securing your home is about more than just wildfire insurance coverage.
A fire sprinkler system keeps wildfires at bay. Making this investment can save your home and the precious items in it. It can save you money, too. With this added layer of home protection, your insurance company may keep you insured and or even offer you a discounted premium.
Scroll down to explore financing options.
Financing for wildfire sprinkler systems
Zero-down
wildfire protection
Three great payment options:
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New financing options make a Frontline Wildfire Defense System more accessible to more people.
Ensure you are protected today, even if you don’t pay until next year.
Explore your options today:
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Install Now, Pay Later
No payment for one year. No interest for one year.
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Protection Loan
Low monthly payments. One low, fixed rate.
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Cash Purchase
Own your system from day one.
Wildfire Defense Financing Made Simple
Frontline’s financing is offered in partnership one of the largest banks in the United States. When you choose our financing, you never have to worry about paying Frontline directly. You simply have your system installed, so your home and family are protected, and then pay for your system over time directly to our financing partner. They take care of the upfront payment to Frontline and even call to confirm that you are 100% satisfied with Frontline’s work before we get paid!
Explore rates & payments before you apply
Loan amounts up to $100,000
Apply in minutes
Near instant approval
Application won’t impact your credit score
Requires minimum FICO of 700
The operator of this website is not a lender and does not make loans or credit decisions. This website does not constitute an offer or solicitation to lend or provide funding. Providing your information on this website does not guarantee that you will be approved for a loan or other financial product. The operator of this website does not endorse or charge you for any service or product. Rates as of 3/4/2022. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Estimated interest rates, APRs, and other terms are not binding in any way. Pre-qualifications use a soft credit pull, which does not impact your credit score.
Wildfire Preparation Tax Incentives
Accelerated depreciation for Frontline Systems:
There are also unique tax opportunities available for businesses that install a Frontline System. The most attractive incentives “step-down” every year so the sooner you act, the higher the tax benefit.
The Frontline System is eligible for 100% depreciation in 2022.
This allows the Frontline System owner to immediately deduct the entire cost of the system from their 2022 taxes.
The allowed deprecation steps down to 80% in 2023 but is still very attractive.
Ask your tax advisor about using this benefit of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) to greatly reduce the cost of installing a Frontline System.
Insurance Deep Dive
Living in a high fire risk area, you’re likely to have concerns about wildfire insurance coverage. What are your options? What are the costs? You might worry about whether you can even get home insurance with wildfire coverage in states such as California. We do not provide insurance, however Frontline provides information to help you navigate your insurance journey.
Are wildfires covered by insurance?
While you cannot buy stand-alone “wildfire insurance,” several types of policies may provide coverage against wildfire damage.
DOES HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE COVER WILDFIRES?
In the past, the answer would be yes, wildfire coverage is included in your home insurance. Today, however, many insurance companies are excluding wildfire coverage from home insurance due to escalating losses and increasing risks.
If you’re wondering whether your homeowners insurance covers wildfires, you can find the answer in your insurance policy documents, which spell out coverage from specific perils. Take a close look at the details.
Most cover your dwelling, other structures on the property like a detached garage or a shed, and improvements such as fences and landscaping. Coverage may spell out what personal belongings are included, as well. Some policies include loss of use, to help you with temporary living expenses while your damaged home is being rebuilt or repaired.
Condo insurance protects the interior of your condo and your personal belongings against fire damage. Your condo policy may also cover living expenses to help you temporarily relocate after a wildfire.
Visit Frontline’s website to learn about wildfire insurance coverage in California.
DOES RENTERS INSURANCE COVER WILDFIRE DAMAGE?
Typical renters insurance includes wildfire protection, covering your personal belongings from damage caused by smoke, flames, and water or chemicals used to fight the fire. Some policies also cover temporary living expenses while the damaged property is repaired.
You may have an all-risk policy that covers wildfires, or it may specifically list fire damage as a named peril, no matter the cause. Watch out for coverage limits, exclusions, high deductibles, and overarching policy limits. You’ll want to know your worst-case scenario in advance, so you can find the best policy and be better prepared.
One thing that renters insurance doesn’t cover is your dwelling itself, but your landlord’s insurance policy should cover the structure.
DOES CAR INSURANCE COVER WILDFIRES?
Whether your auto insurance covers your vehicle in a wildfire depends on the coverage you buy. Some policies are limited to collision coverage. If you have comprehensive coverage, your vehicle will be covered in the event of a wildfire. Be sure to ask your agent, read your policy carefully, and get answers and clarification—ideally in writing.
What should be included in home insurance protection for wildfires?
Each state approaches regulating the insurance market in different ways. What is normal in Nebraska may not apply in Montana. When shopping for insurance that covers wildfire damage in Montana, research the following homeowners insurance considerations before you ask how much wildfire insurance coverage will cost per month.
1. THE STRUCTURE OF YOUR HOME AND DETACHED BUILDINGS
To fully cover your property, what is the replacement cost of your home and other structures and fixtures, including sheds, garages, barns, fences, and decks? Your replacement cost is the money it would take to rebuild these structures to their original size and quality, should they be destroyed in a wildfire.
2. COVERAGE FOR YOUR PERSONAL BELONGINGS
Covering your personal property includes the replacement value of your furniture, appliances, electronics, clothes, and valuables. If you own expensive jewelry, art, wine, or other collectibles, you may purchase a rider that lists these items and their appraised value.
You might not think of it as personal property, but your landscaping can also be covered.
3. YOUR LIVING EXPENSES IF YOUR HOUSE WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE
Coverage that helps you pay for temporary accommodations, meals, and other living expenses while your home is being rebuilt can be invaluable. Loss-of-use coverage is typically equal to 20% of your dwelling coverage limit. If you live in a fire-prone area, though, you may consider a higher percentage. When many people lose their homes at the same time, prices for temporary accommodations tend to be higher than normal.
4. LIABILITY COVERAGE FOR OTHERS HARMED ON YOUR PROPERTY.
Liability coverage protects you from financial claims for medical expenses and property damage for others who have been harmed on your property. In the chaos of a wildfire, it may be difficult for people to make such claims against you, but it does happen sometimes.
What if your homeowner insurance is canceled or non-renewed?
Insurance companies in some states are canceling policies or declining to renew them at higher rates than in the past. Finding yourself suddenly without coverage can be frightening and frustrating. But you have the right to wildfire insurance coverage, no matter where you live. In the case of a canceled or non-renewed policy, here’s what you need to know.
CAN INSURANCE COMPANIES REFUSE TO RENEW YOUR POLICY DUE TO WILDFIRES?
Yes, insurance companies can and do cancel or refuse to renew policies of homeowners in high risk areas. A moratorium, like the one issued in California, is meant to protect you from this.
Without this moratorium, homeowners living near a recent wildfire could have had their policies ended. Being ready can prevent gaps in coverage that may leave your assets exposed to risk.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU LOST YOUR HOME INSURANCE COVERAGE
If you’ve lost your home insurance policy and you live in a high fire risk area, don’t panic. You have options. We recommend taking these steps:
Contact your insurer immediately. Your insurer or agent may offer actions you can take to lower your risk. If you can document recommended property upgrades, you may be able to keep your policy.
Look into alternative insurance carriers. You may be able to get a policy from a different carrier. Research your options in advance, to help you be prepared.
Fireproof your house. Preventing a loss is better than being reimbursed for one, no matter the state of the insurance market. When you install a home fire sprinkler system, like those offered by Frontline Wildfire Defense, you protect your property while also making it easier to secure coverage. Your insurance company may even offer credits or discounts after the system is installed.
Making a wildfire insurance claim
If you suffer a loss due to a wildfire, it’s important to know what to do to get the greatest benefit from your coverage and to recover as quickly as possible.
Keep your policy documents in a safe place. You don’t want to lose important documents in a fire. Make sure your policy, birth certificate, property deeds, passports, and other valuable documents are easy to access, should you have to evacuate. Keep secure copies at your place of work or in a safe deposit box at your bank.
Contact your insurer as soon as possible. The sooner you file your insurance claim, the sooner you can start rebuilding.
Take photos and videos of your belongings and interiors to document them in advance. Describe them and, if possible, list their original purchase price. As soon as it’s safe to enter your home, take photos and videos of the damage to structures and belongings. Submit these to your insurer as proof of damage.
If you have to temporarily relocate after a wildfire, track your living expenses and keep all of your receipts so that you can be fully reimbursed.
Keep your damaged items for the time being. You may be eager to start cleaning up, but your insurance adjuster may need more detailed proof of damage to document your losses.
Know your responsibilities and the particulars of your policy. Your insurer may require you to get repair estimates and file claims documents. Don’t put this work off or you could miss getting reimbursed. Most companies have time limits on filing claims, generally 60 days. In the chaos of a loss, it’s easy to miss deadlines, so make this a priority.
Don’t take no for an answer. If a claim is denied, you can and should appeal. You might not get as much money as you want, but you can often get some. Appeal all denied claims and provide plenty of documentation.