It takes a village to decrease wildfire threat to your property

Prepare now! Mitigation is the key.

Carson City, NV - June 06, 2018

The most recent wildfire in Northern Nevada’s Lyon County near Dayton that burned more than 3,000 acres was a good reminder that wildfire season is upon us and we need to be prepared.

 

Fortunately, this brush fire mostly burned rangeland and no structures were damaged or threatened, but this may not be the case next time. For this reason it is important to mitigate now to reduce the possibility of fire-related property damages.

 

“Mitigation is only effective if it is done before a disaster strikes and is more effective when the entire community participates,” said Insurance Commissioner Barbara Richardson.

 

Consumers may start by following local ordinances that help control the growth of shrubs, vegetation, pine needles and other fire fuels. This is especially important in high vegetation communities such as Lake Tahoe and the Mount Charleston areas.

 

Another important step is creating defensible space around your property. Living with Fire has a “Defensible Space Calculator” on their website at http://www.livingwithfire.info/before-the-fire  that can recommend how much defensible space your property needs. By taking action consumers not only reduce the threat of wildfire but this can also help the firefighters defend property safely and more effectively.

 

“Community-wide mitigation efforts may lead not only to lowering the risk of wildfire, and loss from wildfire but it may also be helpful in lowering individual home insurance premiums.” explained Commissioner Richardson.

 

Even though reducing the fuel will reduce the risk of fire to your home, it is also important to protect your home with adequate insurance.

 

The Nevada Division of Insurance recommends that you conduct a checkup that includes completing a home inventory and reviewing the provisions of your homeowner’s policy with your insurance agent or insurance company. A good reminder to do so may be when you receive your annual renewal notice. This inventory and review will ensure appropriate and adequate coverage is in place to repair or replace your home and belongings in the event that it is destroyed by a fire.

 

The Division has resources available on its website to help homeowners and renters. Please visit the Division’s website at http://doi.nv.gov/Consumers/Homeowners-Insurance/Home-Inventory/  for tips on how to create a home inventory. You can also view the Nevada Consumer’s Guide to Home Insurance at http://doi.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/doinvgov/_public-documents/News-Notes/HomeInsuranceGuide2011B.pdf

 

Don’t forget to also check out the NAIC’s free myHOME Scr.APP.book downloadable app that allows you to quickly photograph and capture descriptions of your possessions room by room, then store electronically for safekeeping. The app is available for iPhone® and Android devices.

 

About the Nevada Division of Insurance

The State of Nevada Division of Insurance, a Division of the Nevada Department of Business and Industry, protects the rights of Nevada consumers and regulates Nevada’s $14 billion insurance industry. The Division of Insurance has offices in Carson City and Las Vegas. In 2017, the Division investigated more than 3,200 consumer complaints and recovered over $5 million on behalf of consumers. For more information about the Division of Insurance, visit DOI.NV.GOV.

 

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Contact

Yeraldin Deavila
DOI PIO
(775) 687-0772