Wildfires can devastate communities, destroy buildings and infrastructure, and even claim human lives. As wildfires burn throughout Canada, Canadians may be wondering whether insurance will cover damages – the short answer is yes. Since wildfire season is upon us in Ontario, the best way you can protect yourself and your family is to follow these tips.

Understanding wildfires
Canada experiences roughly 8,000 wildfires each year, burning an average of 2.5 million hectares of forest, particularly between May and September.^1,2 Wildfires often start small and can go unnoticed at first, but they can spread quickly.¹ Embers and sparks can blow up to 2 kilometres ahead of a wildfire, igniting materials on or around your home and causing severe damage.¹ Extreme radiant heat can emanate from flames as close as 30 metres from your home.³ It can break windows, melt vinyl siding, or set your house ablaze.³

As wildfires spread from forests or grasslands toward residential areas, they ignite flammable objects. To slow or prevent a fire from directly affecting your home, here are some steps you can take to create breaks in its path.³

Preparing your home:³

• A Class A fire-rated roof made of metal, asphalt, clay, or composite rubber tiles offers the best protection. It should also be regularly cleaned of any combustible materials.
• Frequently remove debris from your gutters. Consider installing metal mesh screens to reduce the amount of accumulated debris.
• Install 3-millimetre screening or ASTM fire-rated vents. Soffits and fascia should be appropriately fitted to reduce the risk of embers and heat reaching your wooden rafters.
• Stucco, metal, brick/concrete and fibre cement siding offer superior fire resistance, whereas untreated wood and vinyl siding provide little protection.
• Double-paned windows are recommended.
• All doors into your home should be fire-rated and have a proper seal.
• Enclose the base of the decks, balconies, and the home with fire-resistant materials.
• If you have a wooden fence, use a metal gate to separate it from your house to slow the spread of fire. Remember to keep the grass trimmed along your fence line.
• If you have a shed or building within 10 metres of your home, treat it with the same fire safety considerations as your home.

Preparing your yard:³

• Ensure you maintain a 1.5-metre non-combustible zone around your home.
• Plant a low density of fire-resistant plants and shrubs.
• Avoid using bark or pine needle mulch. Gravel mulch and decorative crushed rock mulch significantly reduce the risk of wildfires.
• Move your firewood pile at least 100 metres away from your home.
• Position fire pits far from buildings and trees. Keep the area within 3 metres of the fire pit free of combustible materials. Check with your local municipality regarding backyard fire pit requirements and restrictions.
• Every home should have accessible shovels, rakes, axes, garden hoses, sprinklers, and ladders to help snuff out wildfires.
• Space trees at least 3 metres apart to reduce the risk of fire spreading to the treetops and then neighbouring trees.
• Surface fires can move quickly, so remove low-hanging branches within 2 metres of the ground.

What will be covered?
Under a standard homeowner, condo, or tenant policy, damage and destruction caused by fire will be covered. These policies also often have mass evacuation coverage, which includes a portion for additional living expenses like hotel accommodations and meals. If you're insured with OTIP, check with an OTIP broker to determine the limit on your policy for these additional living expenses. It's important to note that coverage starts on evacuation day, so make sure to keep all your receipts.

If you lose your home, the costs associated with building or purchasing a new one may be covered, but the amount depends on the policy you have. In the event of a total loss, your policy includes coverage for land remediation.

What happens after a fire?
Once you're in the headspace to think about next steps, you should report your claim to our 24-Hour Emergency Service as soon as possible. Be as detailed as you can when listing your belongings that may have been damaged or destroyed. You might have evidence of your belongings online, such as photos on social media or electronic receipts. Although you may not know the status of your home or when you can return, opening a claim will allow your insurer to assign an adjuster and pull in additional resources if necessary.

You can also refer to the Government of Canada’s Canadian Wildland Fire Information System (CWFIS), which monitors fire danger conditions across Canada. This can help you verify whether you live in an area prone to wildfires.

If you're a current OTIP policyholder, contact us at 1-833-615-9329 to review your existing home insurance policy. If you're not insured with OTIP and are shopping for home insurance, call us at 1-833-494-0085 to get a quote.
 

1. Canadian Red Cross – Wildfires: Information & Facts
2. Government of Canada – Natural Resources Canada – Canadian Wildland Fire Information System
3. Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction – Wildfire