Latest Wildfire Headlines

All the headlines from our Wildfire Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Survey: 22,700-Plus Wildfire Insurance Claims Filed in Calif.

Nov 29 2007 // The Insurance Information Network of California has confirmed that at least 22,700 claims filed from October’s Southern California fire and wind storms. The tally includes at least 2,000 insurance claims for damage...

Wind-Driven Wildfire Strikes Malibu Again, 49 Homes Destroyed

Nov 26 2007 // Glen Sunyich has seen flames ravage the canyons and mountains above Malibu, Calif., three times and has been thankful his home was spared. The fourth time, he wasn’t so lucky. Sunyich’s home was among 49, along...

Catastrophic Events Raise Business Interruption Questions

Nov 18 2007 // Agents advised to discuss extended coverage provisions and contingent business interruption insurance Several recent and relatively recent events — the wildfires in southern California, Hurricane Katrina in August 2005...

Catastrophic Events Raise BI Coverage Questions

Nov 18 2007 // Several recent and relatively recent events — the wildfires in southern California, Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 and the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks — have raised awareness of how, and whether, business...

Firefighters Warn of Continued Wildfire Threat in California

Nov 18 2007 // Rapid development in wildfire-prone areas and continued bone-dry weather have alarmed California firefighters, who began a sweeping assessment of fire danger and what’s needed to meet it. Catastrophic wildfires that...

Ga. Tree Farmers Worry about Drought, Bugs in Aftermath of Wildfires

Nov 13 2007 // The wildfires that burned almost a half-million acres in south Georgia were snuffed out months ago, but tree farmers now face prolonged drought and insect infestations as they prepare to replant the vast...

Safeco Estimates Calif. Wildfire Losses at $35 Million

Nov 12 2007 // Seattle-based Safeco is estimating that claims stemming from the recent California wildfires will amountto $35 million in pretax catastrophe losses. That figure represents the estimated losses both from claims received...

More than 500 Insurance Adjusters to Assist Calif. Wildfire Victims

Nov 9 2007 // California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner today announced that as of Thursday, 502 emergency insurance adjusters had been registered with the Department of Insurance to expedite the processing of insurance claims for...

Firefighters Warn of Continued Wildfire Threat in California

Nov 8 2007 // Rapid development in wildfire-prone areas and continued bone-dry weather have alarmed California firefighters, who began a sweeping assessment of fire danger this week and what’s needed to meet it. Catastrophic...

Fireman’s Fund Offers to Rebuild Wildfire Homes “Green”

Nov 7 2007 // In response to the Southern California wildfires that burned in late October, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. is responding with an innovative green upgrade for affected policyholders. The company said it will rebuild...

NOAA, USGS Warning System To Alert Californians of Flash Floods

Nov 7 2007 // A debris flow and flash flood warning system developed jointly by NOAA’s National Weather Service and the U.S. Geological Survey will help protect Southern Californians from potentially devastating debris flows —...

Insurers Used Variety of Resources to Reach Out to Fire Victims

Nov 4 2007 // In the midst of the blazing wildfires that overwhelmed seven Southern California counties in October, insurance companies sprung into action. Most said they had learned from past catastrophes and that preparation was key...

Wildfire Woes

Nov 4 2007 // When catastrophes strike, the insurance industry often suffers. In addition to suffering financial losses from having to manage claims, those in the industry also seem to suffer in the public’s eye. Mainstream media...

Climate Change May Increase Wildfires in Great Basin

Nov 4 2007 // Climate change is likely to increase the number of wildfires fueled by invasive weeds that are spreading throughout the Great Basin, researchers recently told a U.S. Senate subcommittee. Researchers described a potential...

Five Tips in Dealing with Wildfire Losses

Nov 4 2007 // Here we go again: another disaster, another insurance test. Will Southern Californians whose homes and businesses were destroyed or damaged by wildfires fare better with their insurance providers than Katrina’s...

News Currents

Nov 4 2007 // Calif. DOI partners with CAL FIRE to prevent fire losses A helicopter moves in close to wildfire flames to make a water drop over the Del Dios neighborhood of Escondido, Calif. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy). Just days before...

10 Calif. DOI partners with CAL FIRE

Nov 4 2007 // Groups aim to prevent fire losses during height of wildfire season 10 Hawaii approves 19.3% workers’ comp decrease NCCI recommended 16.8 percent drop 10 Calif. approves AAA’s 6.5% auto rate reduction Carrier...

Major California Wildfires

Nov 4 2007 // Oakland Hills Oct. 1991 2,900 $1.7 billion Cedar Fire Oct. 2003 2,200 $1.06 billion Old Fire Oct. 2003 1,100 $975 million Laguna Oct. 1993 441 $350 million Topanga-Malibu Nov. 1993 323 $375 million Santa Barbara June...

News Currents

Nov 4 2007 // Catastrophic wildfires sweep across Southern California Industry estimates insured losses at more than $1.5 billion and rising Insured losses are continuing to accumulate from Southern California wildfires that burned in...

States under cover

Nov 4 2007 // Natural catastrophes — and the affordability and availability of property insurance in disaster-prone areas — have been on center stage in coastal states from the Northeast to the Gulf Coast. This fall, the...