探花精选

NEW YORK, June 25, 2002 - Wildfires are covered by standard home and auto insurance policies. But to be adequately protected, you need to purchase the right amount of coverage, according to the 探花精选 Information Institute (I.I.I.)

While more wildfires occur in the West, enduring drought conditions and increased building in woodland areas increase the risk to property throughout the U.S. Recently, wildfires have burned parts of Arizona, Colorado, California, New Mexico, as well as New Jersey, Maine and Florida. Since the destructive power of wildfires is not restricted to any one state or part of the country, everyone should review fire safety and insurance protection, says the I.I.I.

More than 100,000 wildfires occur on average each year and burn over four million acres, says the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing losses from natural disasters. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your home from the flames of destruction, says IBHS. (See attachment on Wildfire Prevention for Homes.)

If your community is threatened by a wildfire, your first concern is to protect yourself and your family, says Jeanne M. Salvatore, Vice President, Consumer Affairs, I.I.I. It is important that you:

• Create a family disaster preparedness plan by identifying escape routes from your home, work and neighborhood. You should also designate an emergency meeting place if you become separated from each other.
• Heed any warning to evacuate to a designated shelter immediately. Take emergency supplies such as drinking water, non-perishable food, first aid supplies, a portable radio, flashlight, extra batteries, clothing, blankets, baby items, prescription medicines, extra eyeglasses, cash, and copies of important documents such as insurance policies.

If your home or car is destroyed by wildfire, contact your insurance representative immediately. Damage caused by fire and smoke are covered under standard homeowners and renters insurance policies and under the comprehensive portion of an auto insurance policy," says Salvatore. You are also covered for water or other damaged caused by fire fighters working to extinguish the blaze.

"To protect yourself from the economic consequences of fires and other disasters, you need to purchase enough insurance to rebuild your home and replace everything that is in it in case it's completely destroyed. Unfortunately, many consumers do not know what is in their policy until they have to file a claim and at that point it is too late to purchase the right amount of financial protection," says Salvatore.

In fact, many people are surprised to learn they have coverage for the cost of additional living expenses if they are unable to live in their home because it is damaged by fire or other insured catastrophe. This would provide reimbursement for hotel bills, restaurant meals and other living expenses incurred while your home is being rebuilt. Coverage differs from company to company, however many policies provide reimbursement for about 20 percent of the insurance on your house. You can increase this coverage, however, for an additional premium. If you rent out part of your house, you would also be reimbursed for the rent you would have collected from your tenant if your home had not been destroyed.

If you live in a community that charges homeowners for services rendered by the fire department, you may also want to talk to your insurer about additional coverage for "fire department service charges." Generally, you would be reimbursed up to $500 of this cost and there would be no deductible.

Homeowners insurance companies pay out an average of six billion dollars each year for fire-related claims. In 2000, over 3,000 people were killed in home fires and over 17,000 were seriously injured. Because of the deadly and destructive nature of fire, insurers offer discounts and preferred rates to homes and communities, which takes steps to reduce the risk of fire.

If your home is made of fire-resistant material or is located near a fire department that is highly rated, your homeowners insurance will be favorably impacted. In addition, if you upgrade the wiring in your home, install sprinklers, smoke and fire alarms that ring at an outside service you might be eligible for discounts up to 20 percent Even purchasing simple safety devices such as basic smoke detectors and fire extinguishers will generally provide discounts of at least 5 percent.

For more information on insurance coverage or how to file an insurance, you can access the I.I.I.'s website at or call its toll-free helpline at 800-942-4242. For more information on disaster-proofing your home against fire, you can access the Institute for Business & Home Safety at , the National Fire Protection Association at or the National Interagency Fire Center at .

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Wild Fire Protection for Your Home

The Institute for Business & Home Safety suggests
three levels of protection for your home:

I. GIVE YOUR HOME A SURVIVABLE SPACE

To create survivable space, you must view your yard as a fuel source. Fire will burn only if fuel, such as landscaping, woodpiles and decks, are present. To create your survivable space, take the following steps within at least 30 feet of your home, 50-100 feet if you live in a heavily wooded area:

• Prune trees and shrubs.
• Branches on taller trees should be a minimum of 6 feet from the ground.
• Remove dead leaves and branches, especially around the roof and chimney.
• Mow your lawn regularly and dispose promptly of cuttings and debris.
• Clear your roof, gutters and eaves of debris.
• Maintain your irrigation system.
• Move firewood and storage tanks 50 feet away from the home.
• Store flammable liquids properly.

II. MINIMIZE RISK THROUGH SMART LANDSCAPING

When landscaping, take these additional steps to help protect your home.

• Introduce more native vegetation.
• Space trees at least 10 feet apart.
• Do not connect wooden fencing directly to your home.

III. BUILD OR RETROFIT YOUR HOME WITH NON-FLAMMABLE MATERIALS

Another line of defense is the type of materials used on your home's exterior.

• Use only non-combustible roofing products.
• Enclose and screen eaves, fascias, soffits and sub floor vents using 1/4" non-combustible screening.
• Install spark arresters in chimneys.
• Enclose decks with fire-resistant materials.
• Cover exterior walls with fire-resistant materials like stucco, stone, or brick. (Vinyl siding can melt and is not recommended).
• Use double-paned or tempered glass for all exterior windows.

For more information on wildfires and other disasters, go to