We are using stricter policies for inspecting wildfire risk before issuing new or renewed Homeowners Insurance.Under the new standards, which took effect May 21, inspectors in Alaska will start measuring flammable vegetation around a home, examining fire protection and water sources in an area and requiring that certain flammable items, like wood piles, be moved away from insured structures.
We have inspected structures itself in the past, but this is the first time we are kind of turning our back to the structure and looking at the surrounding area.
The move is part of nationwide changes to increase inspection standards based on specific regional threats, like hurricanes in the Gulf coast, earthquakes in California and wildfires in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.
Homeowners that cannot or will not remedy the situation will be denied coverage.
This is not a situation where we are actively looking to go and deny people Insurance, we are looking to better minimize our exposure. At the same time, it helps people take steps to mitigate and protect themselves from wildfire exposure.
The new standards are not unique to just Alaska. This program began in California almost a decade ago, and has similar programs in Arizona, Idaho, Washington and Oregon.
Starting in 2000, a database was developed of wildfire activity in Alaska to help answer an increasing number of public inquiries about the likelihood and nature of fires in given areas around the state. According to those figures, a 2004 wildfire northeast of Fairbanks that burned almost 540,000 acres damaged 52 structures including 16 homes and 12 businesses, while a fire last summer along the Parks Highway that burned more than 130,000 acres damaged three homes and 14 outbuildings.
By comparison, a Georgia wildfire last month that burned 20,000 acres forced more than 1,000 people to evacuate the area and destroyed 13 homes, and a recent wildfire in Florida burned around 120,000 acres and forced 730 families to evacuate their homes.
Criteria being used:
1. Homes must have a 100-200 foot clearance dependant on the Fuel Hazard Rating (Low is sparse brush under two feet tall, Medium is under two feet tall brush or over two feet with little or no dead brush or trees, High is brush over two feet tall with large amounts of dead material)
2. Homes with wood shingles/shake would need to replace roof material prior to renewal or new business.
3. Homes can not be within 100 feet of a home with wood shingles/shake type roofing material.
Firewood must be stacked a minimum of 30 feet from the home. Firewood stacked under decks, eaves, canopies, overhangs etc are unacceptable.
4. Home must have access road/driveway with 16 foot or greater clearance.
So if building a home is your summer project, please ensure that the material for your roof is metal or composit rather than wood. Wood is typically costly and rarely used in Alaska so this is of little concern. Add to your summer projects to remove any fire wood piles near your home.
Here are some useful websites:
Division of Forestry: http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/forestry/fire/current.htm
NASA's Visible Earth: http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view_rec.php?id=6937
Alaska's Smokejumpers: http://www.alaskasmokejumpers.com/
US Fish and Wildlife Service: http://www.fws.gov/fire/program_statistics/2004/wf_alaska.shtml