Californians wonder if fire hardening will make it easier to get homeowners’ insurance

Fire hardening - Wildfires

Creating a program to incentivize homeowners to mitigate the risk of wildfires has potential. Californians across the state are trying to do what they can to spare their homes from wildfire risk, and some are looking to fire hardening in the hopes of becoming more acceptable to homeowners’ insurance companies. Insurers are becoming increasingly risk averse in the state when it comes to protecting from wildfire. Californian homeowners have been watching their premiums spiking and many are at a risk of having their coverage cancelled altogether. The wildfires in the…

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Governor Newsom declares California state of emergency in three counties

California state of emergency - Wildfire in California

The alert is regarding the Glass and Zogg wildfires which threaten Napa, Sonoma and Shasta counties. Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a California state of emergency in three counties as a result of the Glass and Zogg fires. Those wildfires have already killed three people and have torched their way through thousands of acres since last Sunday. The governor included Napa, Sonoma and Shasta in his statement and sent a letter to President Trump. In Governor Newsom’s letter regarding the California state of emergency in the three counties, he addressed…

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Wildfire prone property insurance bill in California due for hearing

Wildfire prone property - home on fire - firefighters

The bill is expected to be heard in upcoming weeks as opposing sites prepare for major battle. A new California bill, the outcomes of which will have a lot to say about coverage for wildfire prone property in the state, will soon be headed for hearing. The hearing is expected to be a heated one as strong opposing opinions have the opportunity to be voiced. Opponents of this bill are calling it a direct attack on consumer protections in insurance. That said, proponents of the bill claim it is the…

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Commissioner Lara doesn’t want easier rate changes for home insurance companies

Home insurance companies - home, money, calculator

The California Insurance Commissioner is siding with consumer activists to halt legislation. California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is taking the side of consumer activists in an effort to stop a bill that would make it faster and easier for home insurance companies to change their rates. AB 2167 passed the state Assembly on Monday by a vote of 56-3. That said, the bill’s opponents say that this would set the stage for home insurance companies to impose substantial premiums spikes for homeowners in parts of the state hardest hit by…

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California bans insurance companies from dropping climate change risk affected policies

Climate Change risks - forest fire at night

Wildfires have become costly enough that insurers have been ending coverage for many homes. California has taken an unusual new step to help to combat the cost of climate change risks among homeowners across the state. Wildfires have risen in the cost and damage they cause and insurance companies have started dropping coverage. The state has implemented a new regulation to stop insurance companies from dropping policies. The added expense from rapidly rising claims from climate change risks has motivated insurance companies to drop homeowners insurance policies at an increasing…

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