Know AAA: Insurance

Protect your home from wildfire

Summer brings a higher risk of wildfire to Colorado. In the devastating 2002 wildfire season, insurance companies took in about 1,200 claims for the Hayman and Missionary Ridge fires alone, at an estimated cost of $56.4 million. Rural or semi-rural homeowners can take the following protective measures to decrease risk:

  • Maintain a defensive space by clearing flammable materials and flammable vegetation within 30 feet of your home.
  • Space trees and shrubs at least 10 feet apart. On trees taller than 18 feet, prune lower branches within six feet of the ground. Remove branches overhanging the roof, and regularly clear away dead leaves and needles.
  • Install a roof that meets a fire classification of "Class B" or better. Cover the chimney outlet and stovepipe with nonflammable screening no larger than half-inch mesh.
  • Install dual- or triple-paned windows.
  • Is your access road wide enough for a fire truck, and is there turning room? Routes to your home should be well-marked, free of low-hanging tree branches and cleared of flammable vegetation at least 10 feet from roads and five feet from driveways.
  • Create easy, well-marked access to your closest emergency water source. If your water comes from a well, consider an emergency generator to operate the pump during a power failure.

If a wildfire strikes your area and you need to evacuate, contact your insurance company immediately after evacuation so they know where you can be reached. Out-of-pocket expenses during a mandatory evacuation are reimbursable under most standard homeowners' policies-keep all receipts.

For more information on homeowners' insurance, contact a AAA insurance agent. Your local fire department is the best source for fire prevention information.

 

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