Soot, Smoke and Ash Insurance Claims Increase During Wildfire Season
With wildfire season here, smoke and ash claims can arise under an insured’s homeowners and commercial property policies. For fires that occur close to a property, soot claims can arise as well. Wildfires and the associated risks remain a national concern. In April, a state of emergency was declared in Florida as over 100 active fires burned across the state. The number rose to 142 fires in May. While East Coast fires are currently under control, wildfires continue to rage out West, burning through Arizona, Nevada, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington and California and triggering evacuations in many areas. Across the nation, homeowners and commercial businesses face the threat of damaged property and significant losses. Since the beginning of the year, an estimated 4.4 million acres have already been burned by wildfires in the Western U.S. This reflects a 34 percent increase compared to 2016 and is significantly above the 10-year average of 3.1 million acres. Furt...