The Travelers Companies, Inc., has announced that it is including a wildfire defense services endorsement in all California home and landlord policies.
In a statement, Travelers said that the endorsement, included at no additional cost to policyholders, “helps provide an added layer of wildfire protection for customers.”
Travelers said that it is working with Wildfire Defense Systems (“WDS”), a private firm that specializes in wildfire mitigation, to help provide loss prevention services, such as reducing potential fuel sources, taping vents, and applying fire retardants.
“With its industry-leading services and deep experience in wildfire management, Wildfire Defense Systems can help us reach and protect more California homes in the event of an emergency,” said Michael Klein, executive vice president and president of personal insurance at Travelers. “This endorsement adds a significant amount of value to our home insurance products and provides extra peace of mind to our customers.”
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety points out that wildfires can quickly spread when wind-blown burning embers land on combustible parts of a building, fall near combustible vegetation, or enter into homes through vents. Deck and patio furniture, gutters, awnings, wood piles, and areas where pine needles or leaves accumulate are also some of the places where embers can ignite a home or another building on a property.
Travelers said that, to help mitigate these threats, WDS uses proprietary forecasting and threat analysis to identify Travelers customers who could be impacted by a wildfire and then utilizes other resources to take preventive measures, if possible. WDS's services supplement those of local emergency personnel who are deployed before, during and after active wildfires. In an emergency, WDS works to provide services to as many homes as possible based on a variety of factors, including resources, weather conditions, the fire's proximity, and the company's safety guidelines, Travelers added.
The WDS endorsement is subject to policy terms and does not apply to customers that have fire coverage through the California FAIR Plan or a Difference in Conditions endorsement with Travelers, according to Travelers.
Learn more: travelers.com/WildfireDefense.
Victoria Spears
Victoria Prussen Spears is senior vice president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Brooklyn Law School, Ms. Spears was an attorney at a leading New York City law firm before joining Meyerowitz Communications. She may be contacted at [email protected].