Malibu Forest Fire: Are Residents Insured?

Malibu is a city in California that has been affected by wildfires in the past. In 2018, the Woolsey Fire burned 96,949 acres of land in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, destroying 1,643 structures and causing $6 billion in property damage. The city of Malibu works year-round to prepare and help community members be ready to respond to wildfires. Malibu offers free Home Wildfire Hardening Assessments to its residents, in which fire safety liaisons visit homes to assess wildfire risk and provide checklists to help residents protect their homes against flying embers.

In terms of insurance, a standard homeowners insurance policy typically covers destruction and damage caused by wildfires. This includes the cost of rebuilding or repairing a home, remediating smoke damage, and replacing belongings. Additionally, renters insurance usually covers damage caused by wildfires, including personal possessions and additional living expenses. It is important for residents to regularly review their insurance policies to ensure they have adequate coverage in the event of a wildfire.

Malibu residents can prepare for wildfires by reviewing their family emergency and evacuation plans

Review and Update Emergency Supplies

Malibu residents should review their "go bags" and emergency supplies to ensure that food, water, medication, and batteries have not expired. It is important to have a disaster supply kit that includes appropriate protective clothing and equipment for fire conditions.

Develop an Action Plan

It is crucial to decide in advance how you and your family will respond to a wildfire and evacuation orders. Plan multiple escape routes from your home and other frequented areas in Malibu. Pick a reunion location to the North (Valley) and South (West LA/Santa Monica) for family members coming from different directions.

Stay Informed and Connected

Follow the City's communications campaign on social media for daily tips on wildfire preparedness. Additionally, stay connected with family and friends through various means of communication. Texting may be more reliable when networks are overloaded, and radios can also be useful. Mobile phone apps like Zello can be used as long as there is power and WiFi.

Practice Your Plan

Familiarize yourself with what items you can grab in different time frames, such as five minutes, 30 minutes, or one hour. This will help you make quick decisions and ensure you have the essential items you need when evacuating.

Protect Your Home

The City of Malibu offers a free Home Wildfire Hardening Assessment to help residents protect their homes. Fire Safety Liaisons will assess your property's wildfire risk and provide a checklist of ways to harden your home against flying embers, which are a major cause of homes catching fire during a wildfire. They can also assist neighborhoods in attaining Firewise USA recognition, which provides a framework to improve wildfire safety and resilience.

Attend Preparedness Events

The Malibu Public Safety Department and the Public Safety Commission sponsor an annual Malibu Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Expo, which is free and open to the public. The event offers classes, expert speakers, demonstrations, and vendor booths to help residents prepare for wildfires, earthquakes, and other disasters.

Homeowners insurance covers damage to the structure of your home and your belongings

Homeowners insurance provides financial protection against loss due to disasters, theft, and accidents. It covers damage to the structure of your home and your belongings. In the case of Malibu, California, this is particularly important given the area's history of wildfires.

A standard homeowners insurance policy typically covers four essential types of damage:

• Structure of your home: This includes repair or rebuilding costs if your home is damaged or destroyed by disasters like fire, hurricanes, hail, lightning, or other covered perils. Most policies also extend to detached structures like garages, tool sheds, or gazebos, usually covered for about 10% of the main structure's insurance amount.
• Your belongings: Your furniture, clothes, sports equipment, and other personal items are covered if stolen or destroyed by fire, hurricane, or other insured disasters. This coverage is generally 50-70% of the insurance on the structure of the house. It also includes items stored off-premises, providing worldwide coverage.
• Liability protection: This covers you against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage caused by you or your family members to others. It also covers damage caused by your pets.
• Additional living expenses (ALE): ALE covers the additional costs of living away from home if it becomes uninhabitable due to damage from an insured disaster. It includes hotel bills, restaurant meals, and other expenses incurred while your home is being rebuilt.

It is important to note that standard policies do not cover damage caused by floods, earthquakes, or routine wear and tear. Additionally, certain high-value items like jewelry, artwork, and collectibles may require additional coverage as they often have dollar limits in standard policies.

In Malibu, the City's Fire Safety Liaisons offer a free Home Wildfire Hardening Assessment to help residents understand their property's wildfire risk and provide a checklist to harden their homes against flying embers. Understanding your insurance coverage and taking proactive measures to mitigate wildfire risk are crucial steps for Malibu residents to protect their homes and belongings.

If your home is uninhabitable, insurance will cover additional living expenses

If your home is damaged by a forest fire and is deemed uninhabitable, your insurance policy will cover additional living expenses (ALE) or 'loss of use'. This means that your insurance provider will pay for any extra costs you incur while your home is being repaired or rebuilt. This includes things like hotel stays, restaurant meals, transportation costs, and laundry expenses. It's important to note that ALE only covers additional expenses, not your typical expenses like utility bills or groceries.

ALE is typically included as part of a standard homeowners insurance policy and is often calculated as a percentage (usually 20-30%) of your dwelling coverage. For example, if you have $200,000 of dwelling coverage, your additional living expenses coverage might be $40,000. It's a good idea to review your policy regularly to ensure that your coverage is adequate, especially if you live in an area prone to wildfires.

When making a claim for ALE, it's important to keep detailed records of all your expenses and maintain receipts, as reimbursement from your insurance company will usually be on a claim basis. Additionally, it's crucial to discuss your situation with an insurance adjuster before checking into a hotel, as they will determine if the damage is serious enough for your ALE benefits to apply.

You can protect your home by clearing a natural firebreak and installing a water pump

Malibu, California is located in Los Angeles County, which is one of the counties with the most properties with at least a 0.03% annual burn probability. As such, it is important for residents to take measures to protect their homes from wildfires. While standard homeowners insurance covers damage from wildfires, it is still important to take preventative measures to protect your home and reduce the risk of fire damage.

One way to protect your home from wildfires is by clearing a natural firebreak. A firebreak is an area around a home or structure that has been modified to reduce fire hazards. In this area, natural and man-made fuels such as leaves, twigs, pine needles, and other debris are treated, cleared, or reduced to slow the spread of a wildfire. Creating a firebreak involves establishing a series of management zones around the home, with the area nearest the home requiring the most vigilant work to reduce wildfire hazards.

Another way to protect your home from wildfires is by installing a water pump system. These systems use your own water supply, such as a swimming pool, to fight fires. They are easy to set up and use, and can provide up to 30 hours of run time and up to 1100 feet of fire hose. Some systems also include fire gel that can be applied to structures prior to fire impingement to provide greater thermal protection than water alone.

By clearing a natural firebreak and installing a water pump system, you can help protect your home from wildfires and reduce the risk of fire damage. It is important to note that even with these measures in place, there is still a risk of fire damage during a wildfire event.

The City of Malibu offers a free Home Wildfire Hardening Assessment

During the assessment, the liaisons will visit your home and evaluate the property's wildfire risk. They will provide a checklist of ways to harden your home against flying embers, which is a major cause of homes catching fire during wildfires. This includes modifying landscaping, sealing eaves, and moving flammable materials away from structures.

The City of Malibu takes fire safety seriously and works year-round to prepare for wildfires. The City Manager and Public Safety Director meet regularly with the Fire Department and Sheriff's Department to discuss current and forecasted fire conditions, community concerns, and deployment levels. The Fire Safety Liaisons also monitor current fire conditions, including weather and fuel moisture levels, and report them to the City Manager and Public Safety Director weekly.

In addition to the Home Wildfire Hardening Assessment, the City of Malibu also offers other resources to help residents prepare for wildfires. This includes the Emergency Survival Guide, which provides information on creating family emergency and evacuation plans, as well as tips on protecting your home and surrounding areas through fire-safe building and landscaping. The city also encourages residents to review their emergency plans and check their "go bags" and emergency supplies regularly.

The City of Malibu's efforts towards community-wide wildfire preparedness are ongoing, with the goal of enhancing the safety of its residents and their properties.

Frequently asked questions