Extreme droughts and changing weather patterns mean wildfires are the new normal in many parts of the U.S. You generally don’t need separate wildfire insurance if you already have a homeowners or renters policy. But if you live in an area at risk of wildfires, you might have trouble finding coverage.
Here’s what you should know to prepare yourself and your home for wildfires.
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Answer a few questions to see custom quotes and find the right policy for you.Does homeowners insurance cover wildfires?
Standard home insurance policies cover damage from wildfires, including smoke and ash. It can pay to rebuild your home, replace your belongings and even put you up in a rental home during repairs.
But some fire survivors find out too late that their insurance isn’t as comprehensive as they hoped. Here’s how to review each part of your policy to make sure you have the insurance you need.
The structure of your home
Dwelling coverage is the part of your policy that pays for damage to the structure of your home. That includes the roof, floors, attached decks and built-in appliances. Because a wildfire can destroy your home, you’ll want to make sure your dwelling coverage limit is high enough to rebuild it. Otherwise, your insurance payout could come up short.
After the 2025 Eaton Fire in Los Angeles, for instance, 75% of survivors said their homes were underinsured. To keep this from happening to you, consider adding some of the following types of coverage:
- Extended replacement cost coverage. Construction costs often rise after wildfires because everyone wants to rebuild at once. Extended replacement cost coverage gives you a cushion of extra dwelling coverage for such a scenario. Say your house is insured for $300,000. Adding 25% of extended replacement cost coverage means you’ll have up to $375,000 to rebuild your house.
- Guaranteed replacement cost coverage. Not all insurers offer this option, which can give you even more peace of mind. Guaranteed replacement cost coverage will pay whatever it takes to rebuild your home, regardless of your policy limit.
- Ordinance or law coverage. This optional coverage gives you extra money to bring your home up to the latest building codes after a fire. It’s especially worth considering if you have an older house.
- Inflation guard. If your policy has this feature, it’ll raise your coverage limits every year to keep up with inflation.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Tell your insurer if you make major renovations to your home, such as putting on an addition or upgrading your kitchen. You may need to increase your dwelling limit to be fully covered.Other structures on your property
If a wildfire destroys your fence or shed, other structures coverage would pay for repairs. The limit often defaults to 10% of your dwelling coverage, but you can add more coverage if necessary.
Your belongings
If a fire destroys your furniture, clothes and other stuff, your personal property coverage will reimburse you. Your limit for this type of coverage should be high enough to replace everything you own.
The best way to figure out the right coverage amount is to inventory your belongings. (As a bonus, this also makes it easier to file a claim.) Go room by room and take photos or videos of your stuff, including the insides of your cabinets and closets. There are several home inventory apps that can help.
🤓Nerdy Tip
It’s important to understand how your policy covers your belongings. If you have actual cash value coverage, your insurer will pay only what your items are worth at the time they’re damaged. So if you lose your 10-year-old sofa in a wildfire, the insurance company will pay its depreciated value. It’s better to have replacement cost coverage, which will pay enough for a brand-new sofa. Call your agent if you’re not sure which coverage you have.Living expenses
Home insurance can pay for you to live somewhere else while your home is repaired or rebuilt after a fire. This coverage is known as additional living expenses or loss of use coverage. It will pay for things like hotels, restaurant bills and even pet boarding fees beyond your normal living costs.
You may be able to use this coverage if local authorities require you to evacuate for wildfires, even if your home isn't damaged.
Loss of use coverage may have a monetary limit, often a percentage of the policy’s total dwelling coverage. Time limits (such as 12 or 24 months) may also apply.
Fire prevention services
Some homeowners policies come with fire prevention services that can help protect your home. The services may include:
- Personalized consultations on how to make your home more fire resistant.
- Clearing brush, debris and other combustible items from around your home.
- Applying a fire-retardant gel to your property.
- Setting up temporary sprinklers or a portable supply of water.
These services are generally available at no extra cost to policyholders. Below are a few insurers that offer fire prevention services with their homeowners policies in at-risk states:
Does renters insurance cover wildfires?
Yes, renters insurance policies cover wildfire damage. Renters insurance includes personal property coverage for your belongings. Ask your insurer for replacement cost coverage so you get enough claim money to buy brand-new items. Renters insurance also pays for you to live elsewhere while your home is repaired.
Does condo insurance cover wildfires?
Standard condo insurance pays for damage from wildfires. It covers your personal belongings and may also pay for damage to the interior of your unit, such as built-in cabinets and hardwood floors.
It also covers the cost of living in a temporary place while your home is repaired.
What’s my wildfire risk?
You can use online tools to check your home’s wildfire risk. For example, WildfireRisk.org is a site from the U.S. Forest Service. It displays information at the community or county level and recommends ways to reduce your home’s risk.
You can also visit FirstStreet.org, the website of a company that models climate hazards. Enter your address at the top of the homepage to see your property’s risk of fire, flooding and wind damage up to 30 years in the future.
Other tools may be available depending on where you live. For example, the Southern Risk Assessment Portal shows wildfire risk in 13 southern states, including Texas, Florida and Virginia. CAL FIRE maps fire hazard severity zones across California.
How to get wildfire insurance in high-risk areas
If you live in an area prone to wildfires, you may have trouble finding a company willing to cover your home. In recent years, insurers have dropped increasing numbers of homeowners policies in risky places like California and New Mexico. Some insurers have pulled out of certain states altogether.
That’s left homeowners with fewer choices and higher premiums. Below are a few ways to find coverage for your home.
Ask for help
A good first step is to contact a local independent insurance agent who can shop around on your behalf. They often have access to specialized insurers that are more willing to take on risky policies.
Consider a FAIR Plan
You may end up with coverage through your state’s last-resort insurer. These insurers are often called Fair Access to Insurance Requirements Plans. In most states, FAIR policies are available to homeowners who can't get coverage elsewhere.
FAIR Plans may offer less comprehensive coverage than you'd find in the private market. They also may be more expensive.
Did you know...
California’s FAIR Plan was approved for a 29% rate increase in 2026, following heavy losses in the Los Angeles fires of 2025. California’s FAIR Plan has seen a surge in enrollment amid a crisis of availability in the state.You may need extra insurance from a private insurer to make sure your home is fully covered. For example, the California FAIR Plan covers only fire, lightning, smoke and internal explosions. If you want coverage for things like theft or personal liability, you’ll need a separate “differences in conditions” policy.
Harden your home against fires
Reducing your home’s fire risk may make it easier to find insurance or get a lower rate. For example, you can:
Create defensible space. To slow the spread of fires, make a 100-foot buffer around your house. Use gravel instead of mulch for landscaping, clear dead plants and trim branches so trees don’t touch each other. Move firewood and flammable items as far from your house as possible.
Protect vents and eaves. Cover vent openings with metal mesh. Enclose eaves with noncombustible materials.
Upgrade your roof and windows. If your roof is nearing the end of its lifespan, consider replacing it with a Class A fire-rated roof for the highest possible protection. Multi-paned windows can also help ward off flames.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Before making expensive upgrades, contact your insurer or agent to find out which mitigation efforts could earn you a discount on your policy.Learn more about what to do if your home insurer drops you.
How much does wildfire insurance cost?
The cost of a homeowners, condo or renters policy will vary widely depending on where you live, the size of your home and how much coverage you need. You’ll pay more if you have a larger house or live in an area at high risk of wildfires. Your proximity to a fire station can also affect your rate. For a rough idea of what you might pay, read:
You may also want to get home insurance quotes.
How to make a wildfire insurance claim
If a wildfire strikes your home, file a claim with your insurer as soon as it’s safe. You may be able to do so online, by phone or via the insurance company’s mobile app.
Document the damage in photos or videos. To reimburse you, your insurer may ask you to make a list of all the belongings that were destroyed in the fire. (Note that this is an easier task if you’ve already made a home inventory.)
Don’t make any major repairs until your insurer’s claims adjuster has come out to see the damage. But do take steps to prevent further problems, such as covering a damaged roof with a tarp.
Once you start replacing your lost belongings, keep your receipts to submit to the insurance company. Depending on your policy, you may get two separate claim payouts for your belongings. The first will be for the actual cash value of the items. After you replace the items and submit receipts, you’ll get another payout to make up the price difference.
You’ll also want to gather receipts for expenses such as hotel stays, restaurant meals or payments for a rental apartment. All of these may be reimbursable under your loss of use coverage.
Learn more about how to file a home insurance claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need wildfire insurance?
Most homeowners, condo and renters insurance covers wildfire damage. So if your mortgage lender or landlord requires one of these policies, you probably already have wildfire insurance. Even if the coverage isn’t required, it's wise to have it if you live in an area prone to wildfires.
Does car insurance cover wildfires?
Fire damage falls under the comprehensive section of an auto insurance policy. It’s not a required type of coverage, but many people have it, especially if they’re leasing or financing their car. Learn more about comprehensive insurance.
Is there a deductible for wildfires?
If a wildfire damages your home and belongings, a deductible will almost always apply. Some policies have a separate wildfire deductible that’s higher than the standard one that applies to other types of claims. Your wildfire deductible may be a percentage of your dwelling coverage limit. So if the structure of your home is insured for $300,000 and you have a 2% wildfire deductible, you'd pay for the first $6,000 worth of wildfire damage.
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- 1.Spectrum News. 70% of LA Wildfire Survivors Claim Insurance Delays, Denials. Accessed Jul 7, 2026.
