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Illustration of a house on fire in the forest. Protection of the forest against fire..

Wildfire: Protection Tips

In many parts of the United States wildfires are, unfortunately, a reoccurring certainty. However, predicting where a fire will occur is a challenge.

Annually, wildfires cause the destruction of homes, leaving homeowners to ponder what they could have done differently to save their residence. More than ever, it is extremely important to be proactive, not reactive, to catastrophic natural hazards such as wildfires.

Here are some helpful hints, to help minimize the risk of losing your home or possessions to a wildfire:

  • Don’t Ignore Yardwork – cut the grass regularly and rake and dispose of leaves and debris.  Dead bushes and trees should be moved away from the property. Remove debris from gutters.
  • Safely Store Firewood – NEVER stack wood against the house. Use fire resistant storage methods such as fire resistant tarps and boxes.
  • Update Roof and Window Shutters – Fire Resistant or non-combustible materials are always the safest option.
  • Choose Curtains Wisely – Buy heat resistant drapes or curtains to help minimize the extreme heat exposure to windows.
  • Ventilation – Embers in vents can start a fire. Install ember resistant vents and make sure they are properly screened and maintained.
  • Documentation – Keep valuable documents, keepsakes and collectables in close proximity to one another. For claims purposes, maintain a current household item inventory list that, ideally, also includes photos of possessions. Store these items in a “grab and go” area in the event of an emergency OR keep them in a fireproof safe.

Click here for our infographic on Wildfire Protection Tips

Please Note: This is meant only to provide general information about commonly available insurance coverages. Except as expressly noted, this content is not intended to describe any specific coverage offered by MAPFRE Insurance. No coverage is provided, bound or guaranteed by this article. Available coverages, credits and discounts vary from state to state and are subject to eligibility criteria and policy terms/conditions, which will control in the event of conflict between this article and your insurance policy. For information about your policy, please review your individual policy contract and speak with your insurance representative.

MAPFRE Insurance® is a brand and service mark of MAPFRE U.S.A. Corp. and its affiliates, American Commerce Insurance CompanySM (Cal. COA 4928-8); Citation Insurance CompanySM; The Commerce Insurance CompanySM; Commerce West Insurance CompanySM (Cal. COA 1372-2); and MAPFRE Insurance CompanySM (Cal. COA 3039-5). Not all products available in all states.

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