Salem, OR – Oregon’s State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple has teamed up with a nonprofit backed by the insurance industry to assist homeowners in mitigating wildfire risks while potentially reducing their insurance premiums. This collaboration aims to provide residents with practical tools to protect their properties from wildfires and ensure continued access to affordable insurance coverage.
In a memorandum of agreement signed on Friday, Ruiz-Temple joined forces with Roy Wright, CEO of the South Carolina-based Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). The organization oversees the “Wildfire Prepared” certification program, which has now expanded to Oregon after being successfully implemented in California. This certification encourages homeowners to perform specific wildfire prevention measures, such as creating defensible space and reducing flammable materials around their properties.
The program’s goal is to provide homeowners with a tangible way to reduce their wildfire risk while also addressing the rising cost of property insurance. According to the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, property insurance rates in the state have surged by 30% since 2020, a trend that many homeowners are struggling to keep up with.
Governor Tina Kotek expressed her concern over the affordability and accessibility of insurance in the state, noting that while Oregon’s situation has not reached the critical point of neighboring California, it is essential to take steps to prevent such a crisis. “What I think is important for us is that we continue to have insurance for our homeowners here, despite the wildfire risk. That’s not true in other states,” Kotek said during a news conference on Monday. “We also want the price to come down, but at a minimum we need to have insurance for our homeowners.”
Unlike California, which mandates insurers to offer discounts for wildfire mitigation efforts, Oregon has not yet passed similar requirements. However, Governor Kotek emphasized that the state is focused on working with the insurance industry to develop a different relationship than that of California, where insurers are struggling to maintain coverage due to increasing wildfire risks.
Through the collaboration, the State Fire Marshal’s Office and IBHS will not only offer certifications but also engage in research, educational initiatives, and post-wildfire analysis. These efforts are designed to further educate Oregonians on home hardening techniques and defensible space strategies, as well as enhance their understanding of wildfire mitigation measures.
To qualify for the “Wildfire Prepared” certification, homeowners must meet several requirements. For example, a key component involves clearing a 5-foot buffer of all combustible materials around the home and any attached decks. This includes removing trees, branches, mulch, grass, and other flammable items from the area. Once the work is completed, homeowners must submit an application with a $125 fee, along with photos of their completed tasks. After an initial review, a third-party inspector will verify the work before granting the certification.
The certification is valid for three years, during which time homeowners must maintain the defensible space around their properties and submit annual photos to prove continued compliance. Those who successfully complete the certification process may see benefits such as lower insurance premiums, as insurers will factor in these preventive measures when determining rates.
Oregon’s Insurance Commissioner, Andrew Stolfi, expressed optimism about the potential benefits of the certification program. “When consumers and the state invest in reducing wildfire risk, insurers — guided by data and science — should reflect that progress in rating and underwriting, helping to keep coverage available and affordable for Oregonians,” he said in a recent news release.
However, while the new certification program offers a promising solution, financial support for home hardening efforts remains a key issue. The Oregon Legislature had allocated more than $30 million in 2021 to assist homeowners in hardening their homes following the devastating 2020 Labor Day wildfires. Yet, by 2023, funding for these efforts had significantly dwindled, with only 10% of the original allocation remaining.
Governor Kotek has expressed a commitment to securing additional funding for wildfire prevention programs. “The session’s not over yet,” she said, acknowledging that continued investment in community-based grants for home hardening is crucial. “I’m going to continue to fight for dedicated dollars, and frankly new dollars, to help have more of these community-based grants to help not only individual homeowners harden and be protected from wildfire, but the whole community.”
The “Wildfire Prepared” certification program represents a proactive step in mitigating the impact of wildfires on Oregon’s communities. While the initiative provides a valuable tool for homeowners, it also highlights the ongoing need for robust financial support and legislative action to ensure that all Oregonians have access to the resources needed to protect their homes from wildfire risks.
