Fire Insurance Resources

The Laguna Beach Fire Department is aware that there has been an increase in nonrenewals and understand that residential insurance is getting harder to find in high fire risk areas.  The California Department of Insurance has resources for residents to help navigate if Laguna Beach residents are having difficulties getting residential fire insurance: 

Need help with insurance?

Call the California Department of Insurance at 1-800-927-4357.

Watch the Laguna Beach Insurance & Wildfire Town Hall Meeting Below: 

Meeting Summary 

 Current Fire Insurance Issues

  • Key Concerns:
    • Rising Costs: Many residents are experiencing significant increases in their insurance premiums, with some seeing rates more than double in recent years.
    • Non-Renewal of Policies: Some residents have had their policies non-renewed, forcing them to seek alternative, often more expensive, insurance options.
    • Statewide Context: These issues are not unique to Laguna Beach but are part of a broader, statewide crisis.

City and Community Actions
  • Mitigation Efforts:
    • The city has been proactive, spending over $23 million on wildfire mitigation and fire safety measures since 2019. These efforts include enhancing the community's preparedness and response to wildfires.
    • The goal is that these actions will eventually make insurance more accessible and affordable by improving the city's insurance ratings.
  • Community Involvement:
    • The town hall highlighted the importance of community involvement in wildfire prevention through programs like "Safer from Wildfires" and the formation of "Firewise" communities.
    • These programs offer tangible steps that homeowners and neighborhoods can take to reduce their fire risk, which could lead to discounts on insurance.

Presentation by Julia Juarez, Deputy Insurance Commissioner
  • Current Insurance Market:
    • Julia Juarez provided an overview of the current insurance market in California, explaining that a few large companies control the majority of the market. These companies have become increasingly reluctant to write new policies in high-risk areas due to the financial losses from recent wildfires.
    • The California FAIR Plan was discussed as a last-resort option, but it is not ideal due to its high costs and limited coverage.
  • State Initiatives:
    • Safer from Wildfires: This initiative encourages homeowners to take specific actions to mitigate fire risks. Insurance companies are required to consider these actions when assessing policies, and homeowners may receive discounts.
    • Sustainable Insurance Strategy: This upcoming regulation will require insurance companies to cover at least 85% of homes in distressed areas, particularly those that have undertaken wildfire risk reduction measures.
    • Regulatory Changes: The Department of Insurance is working on new regulations, including allowing insurance companies to use modern catastrophic modeling and considering reinsurance (insurance for insurers) to stabilize the market.
  • Outlook:
    • Ms. Juarez acknowledged that the situation is difficult but emphasized that the state is working hard to implement solutions. She mentioned that the expectation is for these regulations to be finalized by the end of 2024, which should start to alleviate some of the pressure on the market.
    • There is cautious optimism that once these changes are in place, insurance availability will improve, and costs may start to stabilize or decrease.

Community Questions and Concerns
  • Specific Concerns Addressed:
    • Residents asked about the timing of infrastructure projects like undergrounding power lines, which could reduce fire risk, and the challenges of dealing with overgrown vegetation on neighboring properties.
    • Insurance Alternatives: There was also a discussion on how to access the FAIR Plan and the challenges of finding brokers willing to assist with high-risk properties.

Closing Remarks
  • Optimism for Improvement:
    • The session closed with an emphasis on the ongoing efforts at both the state and local levels to improve the situation. While acknowledging that the crisis won’t be solved overnight, there was a clear message that the actions being taken are expected to lead to improvements in the availability and affordability of fire insurance in the near future.

Analysis: "This is Going to Get Better" 

The theme of optimism was present throughout the town hall, albeit with a tone of cautious realism. Key points that support this conclusion include:

  1. Statewide Efforts: The ongoing work by the Department of Insurance, including new regulations and initiatives like the "Safer from Wildfires" program, is presented as a concrete step toward improving the situation.
  2. Community Involvement: There's an emphasis on the power of community action—residents working together to reduce risks and create safer environments, which could lead to better insurance outcomes.
  3. Improvements in the Pipeline: The mention of timelines, such as the expectation that new regulations will be in place by the end of 2024, suggests that relief is on the horizon. The acknowledgment by some insurance companies that they will begin writing policies again once these regulations are implemented adds to this optimistic outlook.
  4. Local Initiatives: The city’s efforts to improve fire safety and pursue infrastructure projects like undergrounding power lines are seen as steps that will make the community safer and potentially more insurable.

While the discussion does not shy away from the current difficulties and the seriousness of the insurance crisis, there is a clear undercurrent of hope that the situation will improve with the coordinated efforts of the state, local governments, and the community.

Wildfire Prevention & Preparedness Resources

The destructive impacts of wildfire can be greatly reduced through focused wildfire prevention activities long before a fire starts.

Consequently, through collaborative partnerships with the community we serve, the Fire Prevention Division focuses on:

  • Ensuring that defensible space is maintained
  • Encouraging the planting and maintaining of drought tolerant and fire resistive landscaping
  • Creates and maintains fuel breaks and fire access roads
  • Effectively manages Laguna Beach's Local Responsibility Areas and open space lands 

Below are online resources where Laguna Beach residents can learn more about wildfire prevention and preparedness.

  • CAL FIRE's Building Firewise Communities Page - The Firewise USA® program, led by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), offers a structured approach for communities to enhance their wildfire resilience in California. The program is supported by CAL FIRE’s Community Wildfire Preparedness & Mitigation Division, aiding communities in achieving Firewise designation.
  • Firewise's Online Learning Center - Learn the basics of wildfire behavior and how improvements to your vegetation and home structure can increase your chances of survival.
  • California Fire Safe Council - California's home page for learning more about the role of Fire Safe Councils in promoting wildfire readiness.
  • CAL FIRE Home Hardening: Low-Cost Retrofit List - A list created by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) developed as a best practices guide and to assist homeowners to ensure their home is more ignition-resistant from wildfires.