Fire Insurance Availability in La Honda
A recent La Honda resident contacted the La Honda Guild Board about the difficulties in obtaining fire insurance here in town. Evidently the wildfires in Southern California in October has made some insurance carriers back away from insuring any homes in wooded areas. Since the La Honda area is predominantly wooded, this has turned into a real problem for some people here.
This exerpt is from the consumerwatchdog.org website (http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/insurance/nw/nw004695.php3):
" Ever since wildfires devastated Southern California last October, insurers have been working to avoid too much risk in the next catastrophe -- and a growing number of homeowners are finding it hard to obtain insurance as a result. In the past year, more than 110 San Diegans have filed written complaints with the California Department of Insurance, saying that insurers have either canceled or declined to renew their existing policies or declined to issue new policies. "I have no insurance on my home. I'm really concerned," said Jill Francis, who recently learned that her insurer -- First American -- would not renew its coverage on her Scripps Ranch home, which has been rebuilt after the fires… In addition, many companies have become much more concerned about the distance between a dwelling and brush or any combustible material…It used to be that 500 feet of clearance, no problem, and some people would insure down to 200 feet," said Gene Brouilette, vice president of Brouilette Insurance Services in San Diego. "Now, a lot of insurers like to see 1,500 or 2,000 feet. Insurers are a little more frightened, and rightly so."
See also: http://forests.org/articles/reader.asp?linkid=32162
http://www.insurancejournal.com/magazines/west/2003/04/07/features/
27865.htm
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