Wildfire Preparation

As warmer weather approaches, so does the risk of wildfires. Preparing for wildfire season begins with making some adjustments to your landscaping, and performing regular maintenance. Most wildfires are spread by embers or sparks igniting materials on or near your home. Changes made to the area closest to your home, and your home itself, have the greatest impact in reducing your risk of wildfire damage.

Home & Yard Maintenance:

• Do not store propane or gas tanks or firewood piles under your deck or close to your home
• Regularly remove debris from your gutters
• Plant low-density, fire-resistant plants and shrubs
• Do not use prone landscaping, such as bark or pine needle mulches, within 10 meters of your home
• Keep fire pits as far away from structures as possible and cover with a fine mesh if possible
• Contact your local utility provider to clear branches from power lines
• Space trees 3m or more apart to reduce the chances of a fire jumping from tree to tree
• Prune trees and remove branches from the ground
• Clean any fallen branches and debris every spring and fall
• Ensure your property's address is clearly marked so emergency resources can locate it quickly

Safeguarding your Possessions

Most things can be replaced, but we all have personal items that hold immense value to us. The effects of a wildfire can be especially heart wrenching when we lose previous memories and valuables. Here are some tips you can take to minimize damage from a wildfire and protect your most important belongings.

Make Digital Documents

Creating digital copies of important documents and photos can help you keep valuables safe for as long as you need them. Did you know that your insurance documents are available on Huestis 24/7?

Take a Home Inventory

A home inventory can help speed up the replacement process in the event you have to make a claim. If you don't have time to make a list, go room to room and take photos or videos.

Invest in a Fire Resistant Safe or Bag

A fire-resistant safe or bag can help keep original copies of passports, birth certificates, wills, or other legal documents secure.

Emergency Response Plan

Emergency situations, such as wildfires, can be chaotic and stressful. Having a home emergency response plan can help you and your family stay safe and feel confident in an emergency situation.

Identify all of your Exits

Draw up a floor plan of your home that shows all possible exits from each room, including alternate exits such as windows. Practice removing screens and exiting windows safely with your family members. In addition, determine if you need to make special accommodations for certain family members, such as senior citizens, family members with disabilities, infants and young children.

Stay Connected

Create a communication plan, including how you will receive local emergency updates/alerts, as well as

information on how to keep in contact with your family and emergency services. Make sure all family members have emergency phone numbers saved in their phones including numbers for each family member, the police station, a nearby hospital and an out-of-area emergency contact.

Plan for your Pets

When creating an emergency response plan, don’t forget about your pets! Gather a list of pet-friendly hotels

along your evacuation route. Also, remember to include items for your pet such as food and toys in your

emergency bag / kit.

Create an Emergency Bag

Creating an emergency bag or kit is a great way to have everything you need in one place so you can quickly evacuate. Once a year, review what’s in your emergency bag or kit and replace any expired items.

Here are some examples of things to pack in your emergency bag:

• Emergency blankets
• Flashlight with batteries or crank
• Radio
• Copy of emergency contacts
• Non perishable food items
• Medical supplies - first aid kit, copies of prescriptions, hand sanitizer
• Bottles of water

We Are Here For You

Emergency situations are stressful, but we believe your insurance shouldn’t be. Whether you need to update a policy or make a claim, our teams are here to handle your insurance needs so that you can focus on you and your loved ones’ safety.

Updating your Insurance Policy

Preparing your insurance policy is just as important as preparing your property; our team is here to help. Under most home insurance policies, damage from fire is covered– including forest fires. Your policy will help cover the cost of replacing items and repairing or rebuilding your home following a forest fire. It is important to let us know if you have made any changes that might impact your coverage level. If you have made major renovations or large purchases since your renewal, contact us so we can ensure you have the proper

level of coverage.

Claims Support

Our dedicated Account Managers are ready to assist you should you have to make a claim. If you have a question about your policy or need to submit a claim, please contact us.



Original content provided by Western Financial Group.