Homeowners Insurance and Wildfires: What’s Covered and What’s Not

As wildfires become more frequent and severe across California, homeowners are learning that their insurance coverage may not offer the protection they once assumed. Insurance isn’t just a formality anymore—it’s a battleground between risk, rising costs, and even the ability to get coverage at all.

Let’s walk through what wildfire insurance actually covers (and what it doesn’t), why policies are being dropped, and how fire prevention—like the Zone Zero Fire Shield—fits into this changing landscape.

What Does Wildfire Insurance Typically Cover?

In California, most standard homeowners insurance policies do cover damage from wildfires, including:

• Damage to the structure of your home

• Personal property losses (furniture, electronics, clothing, etc.)

• Temporary housing costs if your home becomes uninhabitable

• Smoke and soot damage, depending on your policy

However, policies vary widely. Some have high deductibles for wildfire losses, others limit coverage amounts in high-risk zones, and many include special exclusions if homes don’t meet local fire-hardening standards.

That’s why it’s vital to regularly review your policy with your insurance agent—especially if you live in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ), like much of Contra Costa County, the Oakland Hills, or areas around Lafayette, Orinda, and Moraga.

The Hidden Gaps: What’s NOT Covered

Here are a few things that are often excluded or underinsured:

• Outbuildings and sheds (unless specifically listed)

• Landscaping damage (trees, gardens, fencing)

• Debris removal (especially after partial damage)

• Secondary smoke damage to electronics and air systems

• Luxury or high-value items that exceed coverage caps

And most importantly: Your peace of mind isn’t covered.

A Growing Crisis: Canceled Policies and Soaring Rates

California is in the middle of an insurance crisis. Following record-setting wildfires in recent years—like the Camp Fire and Palisades Fires—many major insurers have dropped customers in high-risk zones or stopped writing new policies altogether.

• As of 2023, more than 300,000 California homes have lost insurance due to wildfire risk.

• In some fire-prone ZIP codes, 1 in 5 homes have had their policy canceled.

• The California Insurance Commissioner is currently reviewing a proposed 22% rate increase by major carriers, directly linked to losses from the Palisades Fire and broader risk projections.

Many East Bay homeowners—especially in Blackhawk, Alamo, and the Oakland Hills—have been forced into the FAIR Plan, a last-resort, state-run insurance option with limited benefits and high premiums.

This is why fire prevention is no longer just good sense—it’s becoming essential to remain insured.

The Key Distinction: Insurance vs. Prevention

This is where Zone Zero Fire Shield changes the game.

Unlike fire insurance, Zone Zero Fire Shield is fire prevention.

Insurance will pay to rebuild your home after it’s gone. But our solution aims to keep your home from ever being lost in the first place.

Experiencing a catastrophic wildfire event is traumatic—even if you’re insured. You lose your possessions, your peace of mind, and often your entire neighborhood. The rebuild process can take years, cost more than your coverage, and lead to constant battles with adjusters.

But when your home is protected by a 3,000°F-rated fire shield, you can evacuate with confidence:

• You don’t need to pack valuables—your art, keepsakes, and jewelry stay protected.

• Your cars, RVs, and outdoor equipment are wrapped and defended.

• If you’re out of state or on vacation, we’ll still show up and protect your property.

Instead of enduring a personal disaster, you simply come home to a structure that’s intact.

This isn’t just theory—it’s science. We’ve based our system on decades of data showing that 90% of wildfire home ignitions are from embers and radiant heat from adjacent structures, not direct flame. Our shield prevents embers from entering vents, igniting debris, or damaging windows. That’s the Zone Zero difference.

Learn more at www.zonezerofireshield.com

How Zone Zero Fire Shield Supports Insurability

Insurance companies are increasingly looking for measurable fire prevention efforts when assessing whether to write or renew a policy. Our service can:

• Help you retain your current policy by demonstrating active fire defense

• Be a valuable asset when applying for new coverage

• Potentially lower premiums as fire defense tech becomes more widely recognized

We work alongside fire departments, emergency responders, and local codes to integrate your protection with the broader wildfire defense plan.

We’re not here to replace insurance. We’re here to make sure you don’t have to use it.

Final Word

The wildfire insurance landscape is changing—and not in a homeowner-friendly way. Policies are being canceled, premiums are spiking, and even the most thorough insurance can’t bring back lost memories or keepsakes.

Zone Zero Fire Shield offers a better path: prevention, not payout.

Because rebuilding is expensive. But replacing the irreplaceable? That’s impossible.

Learn more at www.zonezerofireshield.com

The Zone Zero Fire Shield team hopes you find this information helpful.