Unlike hurricanes, where forecasters can predict strength, path and storm surge, wildfires emerge without warning and spread indiscriminately and quickly. If your property includes multiple structures, valuable collections, or household staff, preparedness becomes even more critical, especially if you live in an area with high wildfire risk. If you’re fortunate, you may have hours to collect important belongings and evacuate. In other cases, like many victims of the 2025 LA wildfires, families had flames on their property without any warning.
Wildfire preparation can make a difference between life and death and possibly saving your property and personal assets. You need to plan with your family and household staff for a variety of contingencies. Start by listing scenarios applicable to your family, unique location and property characteristics. Here are some example scenarios to consider:
Planning for wildfire scenarios in advance helps protect your family in the event of a disaster. But also, consider how you’ll recover if your property is damaged or destroyed. Reviewing your insurance coverage now can help you avoid costly surprises later and keeps you fully prepared on every front.
With climate change, the frequency and severity of wildfires have increased. Blazes occur in more regions around the world; heat and drought have transformed lush green landscapes into dry, flammable fuel.
Many successful individuals and families build luxury homes featuring costly custom materials in secluded, wooded areas, chosen for beauty and privacy. Unfortunately, these picturesque locales often face a high threat of wildfires. Insurance companies often restrict capacity in many of these locations. This can result in non-renewals and limited options for coverage. The current insurance environment calls for discussing these questions with your insurance broker, so you can identify coverage gaps and explore options for getting the best protection. Consider the following:
After evaluating your insurance coverage, take a closer look at whether your home’s replacement cost is still accurate. High valued properties can experience fluctuations in rebuilding expenses due to the use of custom materials and rising labor costs. Regular updates equate to better protection.
Over time, prices for building materials and labor fluctuate. The pandemic significantly impacted global supply chains, resulting in shortages and delays, that continue. Demand outstripped supply, driving up prices.
An appraisal to determine a sales price isn’t the same thing as a replacement cost appraisal. For high value properties, replacement cost estimates can be higher due to custom architecture, specialized contractors, premium fixtures, and supply-chain constraints affecting luxury materials. A current estimate of the cost to rebuild your home is critical. This is the number you need for accurate insurance planning.
Properties that fare best in wildfires have these key fire mitigation strategies in place:
Invite a fire prevention specialist to evaluate your property once a year. They can often spot opportunities to make your home more resilient. Getting an evaluation and implementing the recommendations can help you in your insurance negotiations. Insurers want to see evidence of proactive risk mitigation.
Some geographic regions have robust, reliable emergency notification procedures. Others do not. Learn what’s available in your area. You may need to opt in to receive emergency alerts. Do not assume the police or fire department will automatically reach out. Some older emergency automation call systems only contact landlines. Enroll your cellular and satellite phones to get notifications.
For years, the focus was on fighting fires once they started and helping people rebuild afterward. Today, insurers and technology leaders are moving from reaction to prevention, using advanced tools, AI, and community strategies to better safeguard homes and natural environments. Early detection is changing the game. AI-powered cameras, drones, and advanced environmental sensors can spot smoke or heat signatures before fires get out of control.
Dramatic landscapes and risk-prone locations have long attracted real estate investment. For owners of luxury homes, ranches, estates, or properties with significant collections or amenities, the stakes are even higher.
Connect with the specialists at Brown & Brown to create a tailored wildfire risk mitigation plan and secure insurance coverage solutions designed to safeguard your family and protect your property. Learn more about Mitigating Wildfire Risk – Creating Defensible Space.
To connect with a specialist at Brown & Brown, submit an inquiry form. You can also access our risk management and risk mitigation resources on our Personal Lines Risk Resources page.
Jeff Kaplan is Senior Vice President, Private Client Group, Brown & Brown, with more than 20 years of experience in property and casualty insurance. He leads a team serving Ultra-High-Net-Worth, High-Net-Worth, and Family Office clients, specializing in complex risk management and mitigation strategies for large property portfolios, catastrophe- and fire-prone areas, maritime, aviation, and fine arts exposures. Jeff advises clients with assets across the U.S. and globally, including high-value residences and significant special collections. He holds the Certified Advisor of Personal Insurance (CAPI) designation, underscoring his expertise in serving affluent and multi-generational clients.