How brokers can help clients prepare for wildfires

With wildfires raging across multiple parts of western Canada, brokers can help prepare clients with actionable guidance to reduce loss and build resilience in high-risk areas, says Klaus Navarrete, managing director and chief agent at HDI Global SE.

Taking proactive measures both before and after wildfire season is essential to long-term protection, Navarrete tells Canadian Underwriter. And even after a fire has passed, brokers should be aware of ongoing risks, including landslides, utility disruptions, structural damage and supply chain delays.

“With wildfire losses becoming more complex, smart risk consulting and prevention planning are now must-haves,” he says. “We’ve seen increased value in risk consulting and damage prevention planning as clients realize that wildfire losses extend beyond direct damage.”

HDI works with brokers to help bridge the gap, particularly when their firms don’t have internal engineering resources.

Navarrete offers the following tips for brokers:

• Build a defensible zone around structures: Encourage clients to clear combustible vegetation and debris from around buildings, especially near vents, gutters and rooftops. Installing ember-resistant vents and using non-combustible building materials like tile or metal roofing can also significantly reduce ignition risk, Navarrete says.

• Prioritize risk assessments in high-exposure zones: So-called ‘zombie fires’— underground fires that smolder through the winter — are already resurfacing. For clients near forest edges or slopes, site-specific engineering assessments can uncover vulnerabilities and help prioritize risk-reduction strategies.
• Plan for post-fire hazards: Wildfire risk doesn’t end once flames are extinguished. Burned vegetation increases the likelihood of landslides and flash floods, while regional infrastructure damage can cause widespread supply chain disruptions, Navarrete says. Brokers can work to prevent further risk with insurers to assess business continuity risks and recovery planning.

Brokerage Westland Insurance Group has also released a guide for wildfire preparedness and recovery. Like HDI, there are measures to take before and after a wildfire.

For example, the guide says to ensure smoke alarms are installed and fire extinguishers and ladders are available in the event of an emergency. It also recommends identifying and maintaining an outside water source and keeping a garden hose long enough to reach all areas of your property.

After a wildfire, Westland’s guide suggests checking the roof and attic of your sheltering location immediately after the fire danger has passed, and putting out any fires, sparks or embers.

“For several hours post-fire, maintain a ‘fire watch,’ re-checking for smoke and sparks,” the guide says. “If you detect heat or smoke, evacuate immediately.”

The guide also outlines what to do during a wildfire, such as staying indoors “when your property becomes a trap,” and proceeding cautiously with headlights on and looking for a clear path when driving through smoke.

Traditionally, experts advise those living in wildfire-prone areas to prepare to be self-sufficient for a minimum of 72 hours, a timeframe that experts have encouraged Canadians to extend as severe weather events such as wildfires occur more frequently and with increased intensity, RatesDotCa says.

From an insurance perspective, there are some key things consumers can do to ensure they are getting the insurance coverage they signed on for, says Daniel Ivans, a RatesDotCa insurance expert and licensed insurance broker.

Homeowners should:

• Keep all receipts for accommodation, food, etc., if staying outside the home. In these cases, it’s imperative consumers know the limits of their policy coverage for accommodations and additional living expenses so as not to unknowingly exceed them. This is especially important if the length of time out of the home is substantial.
• Keep a record of home contents and proof of valuable items, such as receipts for art or jewellery, that can be used to ascertain the value of damaged items. A video or pictures taken of each room in the home and kept on a cloud server can be helpful in recalling the home’s contents after damage has occurred.
• Take pictures of the damage to the home and damaged items in the home, to ascertain the level of damage and loss.