In the face of escalating wildfire risks, Coconino County is seeking solutions to help homeowners retain insurance coverage and safeguard their properties. The region’s residents rank among the highest in the nation for wildfire vulnerability, with some homeowners experiencing insurance rate hikes of up to 300%.
During a recent meeting, county officials highlighted that the threat extends beyond forested areas to grasslands, underscoring the widespread nature of the risk. Insurance industry representatives were on hand to discuss potential strategies.
According to Ethan Aumann from the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, the key to addressing these challenges lies in mitigation efforts. Aumann stated, “What’s increasingly clear from researching this example is that mitigation can result in a meaningful decrease in losses which when done at scale should positively impact the availability and affordability of insurance for consumers.”
Aumann emphasized the importance of protecting homes from embers and removing debris as effective methods to lower wildfire risks. He noted that insurers have returned to areas where homes were rebuilt to higher standards after being destroyed by fires, citing Paradise, California, as an example.
“They’re actually the first community in California to adopt the wildfire prepared home framework into their local ordinance and are requiring all new and rebuilt homes to meet and maintain this designation,” Aumann explained. This framework was established by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, which focuses on creating defensible space around properties.
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