Fire safety – Business Insurance Coverage

Defending Your Home from Wildfires: Affordable Ways to Lower Insurance Costs

paperless — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:09:49 +0000

Wildfires have become a growing concern, especially in states like California, where dry conditions and high winds can turn a small spark into a devastating disaster. Many homeowners are looking for ways to protect their properties and reduce the cost of wildfire insurance. Unfortunately, even those who follow fire prevention measures may still find themselves at risk.

One family in Paradise, California, lost their home despite taking all the recommended precautions. According to a fire inspector, the fire was drawn into the house through foundation vents, causing flames to spread from beneath the structure. This tragic case highlights the importance of understanding fire-resistant construction and how vents, roofing, and siding materials can impact your home’s safety.

How Vents Can Make Your Home Vulnerable to Fire

Most homes have air vents around the foundation, eaves, and roofline to allow proper airflow. However, during a wildfire, these openings can become entry points for embers, which can ignite a fire inside the house.

A recent interview featured a homeowner whose house survived a wildfire. His success was credited to a simple yet effective design: his home lacked exposed vents and large openings at the roof peak. Instead, he used ember-resistant vent covers that prevented dangerous embers from entering while still allowing airflow.

Fire-Resistant Building Materials: What Works Best?

If you’re looking to improve your home’s fire resistance, using non-combustible building materials is one of the best steps you can take. Here are some materials that can help:

Siding: Hardy plank siding (made of fiber cement) is more fire-resistant than traditional wood siding.
Decking: Trex decking, a composite material made from plastic and wood fibers, resists flames better than untreated wood.
Roofing: A composition roof with a Class A fire rating provides the highest level of fire protection.
Chimneys & Wood Stoves: Regular maintenance, such as cleaning flues and replacing damaged bricks, helps reduce fire hazards.

In addition to using fire-resistant materials, maintaining a clear, debris-free property is essential. One homeowner shared how he and his family work year-round to keep their property safe by clearing brush, burning debris in winter, and ensuring there is no dry vegetation near structures.

Wildfire-Resistant Vent Covers: A Smart Investment

One of the most effective upgrades you can make is installing wildfire-resistant vent covers. These vent screens are designed to block embers and reduce radiant heat, helping to prevent fire from entering your home. Here is a non-affiliated, not advertisement link to the vents a simple $20 hack that can potentially save your home from fires: Flame-diffusing and Ember-resistant Foundation Mesh Screen

Key Features of Wildfire Defense Mesh:

98% effective at stopping embers from entering through vents.
Reduces radiant heat exposure by approximately 38%.
Diffuses direct flames to slow fire spread.
Compliant with California Building Code Chapter 7A, which outlines fire safety requirements for homes in wildfire-prone areas.

These vents are typically made from stainless steel and come with a black powder coat finish for durability. With a high tensile woven wire design, they resist breaking and maintain a flat shape even after exposure to heat.

Insurance Challenges: The California FAIR Plan

For homeowners in wildfire-prone areas, securing affordable home insurance can be a challenge. The California FAIR Plan, a last-resort insurance option for high-risk properties, has struggled financially due to the increasing number of wildfire claims. Some reports indicate that it may already be financially unstable following recent fires in Los Angeles.

This leaves homeowners wondering what else they can do to lower their insurance costs. Some insurance inspectors suggest that installing soffit covers under the roof overhang and upgrading to ember-resistant vent screens may help reduce premiums. While not all insurers offer discounts for these upgrades, improving your home’s fire resistance can still make it more insurable in the long run.

Fire Prevention Is a Year-Round Effort

Fire prevention isn’t just about preparing for wildfire season—it’s an ongoing responsibility. Keeping your property clear of dry vegetation, maintaining your home’s fire-resistant features, and upgrading vulnerable areas (like vents and decks) can make a big difference in protecting your home.

If you’re in a wildfire-prone area, consider:
Installing ember-resistant vent covers.
Upgrading to fire-resistant siding and roofing.
Keeping flammable materials, like wood piles, properly stored and covered.
Clearing dry brush and debris regularly.
Maintaining your chimney and stove to prevent accidental fires.

Want to protect your home against wildfires? Start by checking your vents, roofing, and siding to ensure they meet fire-resistant standards. Small upgrades today could save your home tomorrow.

Prepare RV for Winter to Prevent Claims in Spring

paperless — Sat, 02 Jan 2016 09:49:31 +0000

If you have made the decision to end your camping season for the winter, you’ll need to perform some routine preventative maintenance on your RV to avoid expensive repairs in the spring. Depending on where you live, winterization can be done at a local RV dealership for a nominal fee, but many RVers opt to handle these duties themselves. This handy checklist should help you to prepare for winter:

Prep the plumbing system for winter:

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Remove or bypass any filters
Drain the fresh water tank
Drain and flush the gray and black water tanks
Drain the water heater (be sure to open the pressure release valve first)
Turn on all faucets, including the toilet and outside shower
Open the drain lines and let all of the water drain out
Flush the toilet to clear water from the lines
Close the drain lines
Bypass the hot water heater and the fresh water tank
Close all of the open faucets
Use an external water pump or the inlet pump you have disconnected from the fresh water tank to pump approximately three gallons of non-toxic RV antifreeze (this should be pink in color) through the entire system.
Starting with the faucet closest to the pump, open the hot and cold valves until antifreeze appears
Repeat this process on every faucet in the RV
Flush the toilet until antifreeze appears
Turn off the water pump and open a faucet to relieve the pressure in the system
Pour a small amount of antifreeze into each drain
Pour antifreeze into the toilet and flush into the holding tank
Close all valves and faucets
Note: If you chooses to avoid use of antifreeze due to allergy concerns, a specialized air hose and adapter can be purchased that can be used to blow out all of the drain lines

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Prepare the RV for storage:

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To protect the engine, top off with gas to prevent condensation in the fuel lines and add fuel stabilizer
Relieve pressure on the suspension and tires by following the manufacturer’s recommended process for raising the vehicle for an extended period of time
Thoroughly clean the interior and exterior
Close every vent and window, including roof vents and vents for plumbing and air conditioning
Have roof and sealants inspected for leaks
Remove all food and beverage from the RV
Unplug and remove batteries from any electronics in the RV
If the RV does not have an automatic battery disconnection system, ensure the cables are disconnected from the battery
Deep cycle batteries should be fully charged before disabling
Cover the RV with a specially-made fabric cover for RVs
Periodically check inside the RV to ensure there is no evidence of damage from water or vermin
Prevent buildup of snow on the roof as water could find its way inside the RV when melting

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Don’t forget that our RV insurance product offers a temporary storage coverage that can save you money when you’re not using your RV. Request a quote a new RV policy today.

Be aware – not all kitchen fires start with cooking

paperless — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 01:01:16 +0000

When thinking of the cause of a kitchen fire, it is common to think of cooking. But not all kitchen fires start because of cooking hazards. Non-cooking related fires commonly involve refrigerators, freezers or dishwashers. The following tips can help prevent non-cooking related fires from occurring in your kitchen.

Plug all kitchen appliances, including microwaves, toasters and coffee makers, directly into a wall outlet. Never use an extension cord as it can overheat or overload the circuit and cause a fire.
Be sure to only use properly grounded outlets for larger appliances. Have the wall outlets and circuits checked by a qualified electrician to make sure they are properly grounded.
If a standard 2-prong outlet is present, have a qualified electrician replace it with a properly ground 3-prong wall outlet. Do not use an adapter.
Plug your refrigerator into its own individual outlet that matches the rating plate on the appliance. This can help prevent overloading wiring circuits, which could cause a fire from overheated wires. Check with a qualified electrician to make sure the outlet properly supports the appliance.
Repair or replace any power cords that become frayed or otherwise damaged.Never use a cord that shows cracks or other damage.
When moving kitchen appliances, be aware of power cords. Rolling over or pinching power cords can damage them.
Unplug small appliances when not in use.
Keep your stove and oven clean. Built up food splatter or grease can later ignite when the stove or oven is turned on for cooking.
Check and clean stove hoods and filters regularly. If your stove hood vents externally, make sure insects or birds do not build nests or otherwise impede air flow through it.
Never store flammable liquids near appliances. Keep gasoline, paint thinners and other flammable liquids or materials in Underwriters Laboratory (UL) listed containers and out of your house.
Never use a kitchen oven to heat your home. Not only is this a fire hazard, but it can also give off toxic fumes.

What to do if a kitchen fire flares up
By exercising caution at all times in your kitchen, you can help reduce the risk of a kitchen fire. But if a fire does flare up, you need to be prepared.

Your safety should always come first. If you are unsure about whether it is unsafe to fight the fire, leave the scene, call 911 for help, and let the fire department control the fire.
If a small fire flares up and you are going to attempt to extinguish it, call 911 for help first. A fire may grow out of control more quickly than you anticipate. It is safer to have help already on the way.
Using a fire extinguisher

Proper fire extinguisher use

paperless — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 00:57:51 +0000

You should know exactly how to use a fire extinguisher in the event a fire develops and you feel you are safely able to fight it. It is recommended that only those trained in the proper use of fire extinguishers consider using them when appropriate.

Call for help before attempting to extinguish a fire. A fire may grow out of control more quickly than you anticipate. It is wise to have help on the way.

Determine a safe evacuation path before approaching the fire. Do not allow the fire, heat or smoke to come between you and your evacuation path.

Attack the fire using the PASS method:

Pull the pin – by pulling the pin, the operating lever should unlock and allows you to discharge the extinguisher.

Aim low – point the extinguisher hose/nozzle at the base of the fire.

Squeeze the lever – this should discharge the extinguishing agent. Some extinguishers may have a button or other means of activation.

Sweep from side to side – while you are aiming at the base of the fire, you should sweep back and forth until the fire is extinguished. If the fire re-ignites, repeat the process.

Remember additional safeguards:

Keep your back to an exit so that there is a viable means of retreating from the fire.
Stand at least 8 feet from the fire and begin PASS.
If the fire does not extinguish immediately, leave the fire.
Have the fire department survey the area to ensure the fire has been extinguished and that there are not concealed areas where a fire could be smoldering.
If an extinguisher is used (even partially), it needs to be recharged or replaced.

Fire extinguisher maintenance
Fire extinguishers should be regularly checked to ensure the following:

The extinguisher is not blocked by furniture, doors or anything that may limit access during an emergency;
It is properly mounted in the path of an exit and away from heat sources; and
The pressure is at the recommended level. Your extinguisher may have a gauge that indicates when the pressure is too high or too low.

Portable fire extinguishers – test your knowledge
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