Insurance Damage Estimates from the Waldo Canyon & High Park Fires Total Nearly $450 Million—Making the Devastating 2012 Wildfire Season the Most Expensive in Colorado History. The 2012 Wildfire Season has taken a devastating toll on Colorado residents, burning more than 600 homes and personal property. Insurance adjusters are still inspecting properties and working with residents, and while the claims and rebuilding process continues, preliminary damage estimates now total $449.7 million from insurance claims. More...
Wildfire is a growing threat in the Rocky Mountain Region, where population is booming in the mountains and foothills. People don't always realize the dangers of living in the Red Zones (dangerous wildfire areas). They move to Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico for the breathtaking views, but they don't always see the potential for losing their homes to wildfire. Homeowners need to be aware of the steps they should take to prevent wildfire AND be aware of the insurance impact before moving or building in high-risk areas.
The 2012 Wildfire Season took a devastating toll on Colorado residents, burning more than 600 homes and personal property. While the claims and rebuilding process continues, preliminary damage estimates now total $449.7 million from insurance claims that include smoke damage, additional living expenses, damaged and destroyed homes, as well as personal belongings and vehicles.
The estimated insured losses make the Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado Springs Colorado's most expensive wildfire with insurance costs totaling more than $352.6 million from approximately 4,300 claims filed so far. Officials put the number of homes destroyed at 346. The High Park Fire near Fort Collins burned 259 homes and based on the nearly 850 insurance claims filed so far the insurance costs are estimated at $97.1 million. These estimates do not include commercial losses.
Previously, the most expensive wildfire in Colorado state history was the September 2010 Fourmile Canyon Fire that burned 169 homes and other personal property in the foothills just northwest of Boulder. Damage estimates totaled $217 million ($229.1 million in 2012 dollars) from insurance claims that included smoke damage, additional living expenses, damaged and destroyed homes, as well as personal belongings and vehicles.
The overall estimated cost of the 2002 Colorado wildfire season including the Iron Mountain, Coal Seam, Missionary Ridge and Hayman Fires was $70.3 million in insured losses ($90.0 million in 2012 dollars). Companies took in about 1,236 claims for the Hayman and Missionary Ridge Fires at an estimated cost of $56.4 million.
Nationally, the most costly fire in terms of insured losses was the October 1991 Oakland Hills fire which caused $1.7 billion in insured losses (about $2.8 billion in 2011 dollars) and 2003's wildfires in San Diego and San Bernardino Counties, California at $2.03 billion. The 2007 wildfires in Southern California are estimated to have caused $1.6 billion in insured losses. Catastrophic fires account for 2.2% of insurance losses. That compares to 30% for tornadoes, 44% for hurricanes and tropical storms, 6.8% for terrorism, 7.4% for winter storms, 5.1% for earthquakes and 4.1% for wind/hail damage (as reported by the Insurance Information Institute). The insurance industry estimates the Cerro Grande Fire in Los Alamos cost approximately $140 million in insured damage in May 2000 ($187.2 million in 2012 dollars), making it the most costly wildfire in New Mexico's history.
Wildfire insurance costs hinge on a number of factors, including the number of primary homes in the area (as compared to vacation homes and cabins), their estimated value and the amount of insurance coverage on the properties.
Colorado Wildfire Insurance Costs
Year
Fire
Insured Loss ($ Millions)
2012 Dollars ($ Millions)*
2012
Waldo Canyon, Colorado Springs
$352.6
$352.6
2012
High Park, near Fort Collins
$97.1
$97.1
2010
Fourmile Canyon, northwest of Boulder
$217.0
$229.1
2002
Hayman, southwest of Denver
$38.7
$49.5
2002
Missionary Ridge, near Durango
$17.7
$22.7
2002
Coal Seam, Glenwood Springs
$6.4
$8.2
2002
Iron Mountain, near Cañon City
$7.5
$9.6
*2012 estimated cost calculations based on the Consumer Price Index.
How can I slow down a wildfire headed toward my house?
Below is an interview with a homeowner who experienced the Fourmile Canyon Fire near Boulder, Colorado. Hear how he helped save his home. Video provided by State Farm.
Tips for helping prevent a wildfire from destroying your home:
Create a 30-foot defensible space around your home by removing as much flammable material as you can. Replace flammable vegetation with fire resistive plants.
Reduce the number of trees in heavily wooded areas by spacing native trees and shrubs at least 10 feet apart. On trees taller than 18 feet, prune lower branches within six feet of the ground.
Remove branches overhanging the roof or coming within 10 feet of the chimney. Clean all dead leaves and needles from the roof, gutters, and yard.
Install a roof that meets a fire classification of "Class B" or better. Cover the chimney outlet and stovepipe with nonflammable screening no larger than half-inch mesh.
Install dual- or triple-paned windows, and limit the size and number of windows that face large areas of vegetation.
Put woodpiles and liquid propane gas tanks at least 30 feet from all structures and clear away flammable vegetation within 10 feet of those woodpiles and propane tanks.
Check out additional resouorces on the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) Firewise Communities website for homeowners.
How can I help firefighters save my home?
Make it easy for firefighters to get to your home. Roads need to be wide enough to accommodate fire trucks, and there has to be a place for them to turn around. Driveways and bridges must be strong enough to carry heavy emergency vehicles. Identify at least two ways to and from your house and make sure they're well marked. All access routes to your home should be free of low hanging tree branches and cleared of flammable vegetation at least 10 feet from roads and five feet from driveways.
Proximity to a quality fire department is
also
one of the greatest considerations that
your
insurance carrier will use in determining
your
homeowners insurance premium.
Maintain an emergency water supply that meets fire department standards, such as a community water hydrant system, a cooperative emergency storage tank with neighbors, or a minimum storage supply of 2,500 gallons on your property. If your water comes from a well, consider an emergency generator to operate the pump during a power failure. Clearly mark all water sources, and create easy access to your closest emergency water source.
Evacuation Tips
If you have time before you evacuate your family and pets (your family has an evacuation plan in place, right?), back your car into the garage, leave the key in the ignition, and close the garage door. Close windows and doors to the house, and close all inside doors.
Take down drapes and curtains.
Place a ladder against the front of the house.
If you have a combustible roof, wet it down or turn on roof sprinklers.
Turn off the gas at the meter and the butane tank.
Place fire fighting tools, such as 100 feet of pre-connected garden hose, a shovel, a rake, a bucket, and containers filled with water, in an accessible place.
In case of possible evacuation – only if you have enough warning – consider packing the following items:
Important personal computer information downloaded to disk
Valuable jewelry
Photographs
Home videos
Items with sentimental value, such as wedding dress or baby keepsakes
One week's worth of clothing
Pets with ID tags, carriers, and pet food
What should I do after a wildfire?
Residents evacuated from their homes should contact their insurance agents or companies immediately and let them know where they can be reached. As adjusters are allowed into the burned-out areas they will want to go in with their policyholders to assess the damage. Many companies will set up 24-hour emergency hotlines.
Company claims adjusters, many equipped with laptop computers and portable phones, will start writing checks over the next few days to pay the cost of temporary living expenses for people left homeless by the fires and to begin the rebuilding of damaged homes. Some companies will be opening special claims centers to assist their policyholders. Contact your agent or company if you need additional living expenses while you are out of your home.
Keep receipts. Out of pocket expenses during a mandatory evacuation are reimbursable under most standard homeowner policies.
Be prepared to give your agent or insurance representative a description of your damage. Your agent will report the loss immediately to your insurance company or a qualified adjuster who will contact you as soon as possible to inspect the damage. Again, be sure to give your agent a number where you can be reached.
Take photos of the damaged areas. These will help with your claims process and will assist the adjuster in the investigation.
Prepare a detailed inventory of all damaged or destroyed personal property. Be sure to make two copies-one for yourself and one for the adjuster. Your list should be as complete as possible, including a description of the items, dates of purchase or approximate age, cost at time of purchase and estimated replacement cost.
Make whatever temporary repairs you can . Cover broken windows, damaged roofs and walls to prevent further destruction. Save receipts for supplies and materials you purchase. Your company will reimburse you for reasonable expenses in making temporary repairs.
Secure a detailed estimate for permanent repairs to your home from a reliable contractor and give it to the adjuster. The estimate should contain the proposed repairs, repair costs and replacement prices.
Serious losses will be given priority . If your home has been destroyed or seriously damaged, your agent will do everything possible to assure that you are given priority.
The 2012 Wildfire Season took a devastating toll on Colorado residents, burning more than 600 homes and personal property. While the claims and rebuilding process continues, preliminary damage estimates now total $449.7 million from insurance claims that include smoke damage, additional living expenses, damaged and destroyed homes, as well as personal belongings and vehicles.
Create a 30-foot defensible space around your home by removing as much flammable material as you can. Replace flammable vegetation with fire resistive plants.
Make it easy for firefighters to get to your home. Roads need to be wide enough to accommodate fire trucks, and there has to be a place for them to turn around. Driveways and bridges must be strong enough to carry heavy emergency vehicles. Identify at least two ways to and from your house and make sure they're well marked. All access routes to your home should be free of low hanging tree branches and cleared of flammable vegetation at least 10 feet from roads and five feet from driveways.
