By Catherine Reagor | Arizona Republic (abridged)
Arizona home insurance costs are soaring, and a growing number of homeowners near wildfire risk areas can’t even get insurance.
Wildfires are a big driver behind the state’s growing home insurance problems.
The Southern California fires make it clear wildfires are no longer seasonal, and the devastated area’s losses likely mean higher rates for Arizona property owners.
Wildfires aren’t just a rural problem. Metro Phoenix has had its share. In 2005, the Cave Creek Complex Fire that started in north Scottsdale burned 243,950 acres.
Many homeowners in both rural and urban areas can do more to protect their homes and communities from fire.
“Fire mitigation is key for protecting homes,” said Lori Munn, deputy director of insurance in the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions, which formed the Resiliency and Mitigation Council to address wildfire damage prevention, home insurance problems and high costs.
Pricey home insurance, frustrated homeowners
Arizona led the nation for the biggest increase in home insurance costs between 2019 and mid-2024, according to one survey.
The Resiliency and Mitigation Council is working on getting updated information on average policy costs.
Mark Perkins’ insurance premium on his Phoenix house near South Mountain skyrocketed more than 200% from $2,500 to $7,600 last year.
“They (the insurer) said there was a 35% increase in rates across the board in Arizona, and the rest was due to perceived increase in fire risk,” he said.
He said the “desert there is pretty sparse” near his house.
Perkins switched insurers and kept his costs close to what they had been the previous year.
What homeowners can do to mitigate wildfire risks
Some insurers may be more willing to cover houses if the owners try to reduce wildfire risks, say insurance experts.
There’s no data yet on how effective mitigation work is in lowering rates or retaining a policy, but the Mitigation Council is also working on getting that.
Insurance and fire experts say mitigation efforts are important not just for individual property owners. Communities should work together on mitigation, they say, because embers move quickly from home to home, driving wildfires like the ones in the Los Angeles area.
Several groups and government agencies offer mitigation guidance, including Firewise USA, FEMA, the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes and local fire departments.
Kate Stillwell, co-founder of the app Firebreak Risk, which identifies homeowners’ biggest wildfire risks and provides solutions, said mitigation work can be overwhelming for property owners and expensive.
She said DYI mitigation work costing $200 or less that homeowners can do on weekends is the most popular.
Fire mitigation strategies homeowners can undertake include:
- Keep yards clear of flammable debris.
- Move firewood away from structures.
- Build with fire-resistant material, including composite, clay, metal, brick and concrete.
- Limit flammable plants and trees within 100 feet of the home, which is considered the standard space needed to defend from a wildfire.
- Trim branches that overhang a home, porch or deck.
- Get dual-paned, tempered glass windows.
- Remove flammable materials from carports.
- Keep roofs and gutters free of leaves and pine needles.
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