IBHS and APCIA Introduce a Wildfire Tool Kit

The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) have put together a Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program Framework to help cities and areas around cities to create sustainable wildfire mitigation systems.

IBHS senior director, Steve Hawks said the report accompanying the tool kit starts at the beginning. Wildfires start in the wilderness and spread into communities. Once they hit a neighborhood or a city, the wildfire grows in intensity.

"Communities are learning how to live with wildfire because in many areas it's no longer a distant threat — it's a reality,” Hawks said. "This toolkit provides a consistent, research-based program neighbors can implement in their communities to reduce the risk of home ignition and strengthen their neighborhoods, which also supports insurability.”

The program is science-based and looks at ways to implement home mitigation standards. These include the hardening of a structure, creating a defensible space, assessment and training resources and outreach and other strategies to help communities get homeowners and others involved.

The kit includes information to help city and county officials with planning and the design and launch of a wildfire risk reduction program. APCIA vice president, Karen Collins said the program helps community organizers get key partners involved.

"Wildfire risk is not going away. We must adapt by reducing the likelihood that homes ignite from embers, flames and extreme heat,” Collins said. "Community‑wide action — led by local officials and supported by property owners — is essential to reducing losses and easing pressure on insurance markets as climate risks grow. This toolkit equips local leaders with science‑based actions and resources to help homeowners protect their homes and neighborhoods. When mitigation is implemented at scale, property owners benefit from improved survivability and insurability, and communities experience reduced reliance on disaster aid and stronger fiscal stability that protects local tax bases and real estate markets."

Information on the tool kit can be found here: https://bit.ly/4vLsSi8

Source link: PropertyCasualty360.com — https://bit.ly/4y9LNoo