The wildfire insurance crisis is real
Carriers are pulling back from high-risk markets across the West. Premiums are rising, policies are being canceled, and millions of homeowners are struggling to find coverage. The problem is not going away. But there are concrete steps homeowners can take to reduce their risk, document it, and remain insurable.
The same principle that drives FORTIFIED in hurricane-prone states applies here. Third-party verified mitigation documentation changes the conversation with insurers. It reflects real, measurable risk reduction, and insurers are beginning to recognize and reward it.
What is the Wildfire Prepared Home designation?
The Wildfire Prepared Home program is developed by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), the same organization behind FORTIFIED. It is the first science-based wildfire mitigation designation program for homeowners, built on more than a decade of post-fire research and full-scale ember testing.
Homeowners earn a designation by completing a verified set of mitigation actions across three areas: the roof, the home's exterior features, and defensible space. A third-party evaluator documents that the work has been completed, and IBHS issues a designation certificate.
There are two levels:
Wildfire Prepared Home Base focuses on ember protection, the leading cause of home ignitions. It requires a Class A roof, a 5-foot noncombustible zone around the home, and preparation of the home's exterior, deck, and yard.
Wildfire Prepared Home Plus includes all Base requirements and adds protection against flames and radiant heat. It is typically achieved during new construction or major exterior renovation and includes enclosed eaves, noncombustible gutters, upgraded windows and doors, and noncombustible siding.
The designation is valid for three years, with annual photo-based maintenance verification required in years one and two.
Where is the program available?
The Wildfire Prepared Home designation is currently available in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Additional states are being added. Visit wildfireprepared.org for current eligibility and program details.
Does it lower insurance costs?
Yes. California insurers are required by the state Department of Insurance to offer premium discounts to homeowners who take qualifying mitigation steps, including the Wildfire Prepared Home designation. Carriers including CSAA, Mercury, USAA, Farmers, Homesite, and State Farm recognize the designation. Discounts and eligibility vary by carrier and state, so ask your agent specifically whether your designation qualifies.
The connection between mitigation, insurability, and premium savings is the same whether the hazard is wind or fire. A FORTIFIED Roof in Alabama and a Wildfire-Prepared Home in California both do the same thing: document that the home was built or upgraded to reduce risk and give insurers a reason to keep covering it.
Wildfire Prepared Neighborhoods
Wildfire resilience is more effective at the community level. IBHS has developed the Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood standard, which applies the same science-based mitigation framework at the neighborhood scale. The standard is designed to meaningfully reduce the probability of fire spread within a community by addressing structural separation, fire-pathway reduction, and wildfire-resilient building materials across all homes within a defined boundary.
IBHS is currently seeking six existing neighborhoods to participate in its Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood pilot program. The nation's first new-home community built to this standard, KB Home's Dixon Trail in Escondido, California, demonstrated that neighborhood-level wildfire resilience is achievable in both new construction and existing communities.
If you are a community, developer, or local government interested in pursuing a Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood designation, Smart Home America can help you understand the process and navigate the path forward. Contact us.
How do I get started?
The process is homeowner-driven. You complete the required mitigation work using IBHS's How-To Prepare My Home Checklist, then pay a $125 application fee and submit photos through the Wildfire Prepared Home portal. A third-party evaluator will document that the work meets the standard, and IBHS will issue your certificate.
Visit wildfireprepared.org to check your home's eligibility, download the checklist, and start the application.
Building from the ground up?
If you are building a new home in a wildfire-prone area, FORTIFIED Home and FORTIFIED Commercial standards can be incorporated during construction to meet both wind and wildfire resilience goals. Contact us to learn more about how resilient construction standards apply to your project.
Smart Home America has spent decades helping homeowners, communities, and policymakers connect resilient construction to better insurance outcomes. Whether you are looking to designate a single home, develop a Wildfire Prepared Home neighborhood, or advance wildfire resilience policy in your state, we are here to help. Contact Us