Since 1990, wildfires in California have destroyed millions of acres and resulted in nearly $8.5 billion in insured losses. An analysis of the wildfire risk in California was undertaken by IINC and Verisk Insurance Solutions - Underwriting shows that more than 2 million of the states' nearly 13.7 million properties are exposed to the highest-risk in the Golden State.
More Than 2 Million Homes Exposed To High Wildfire DangerMore than 2 million California homes face extreme wildfire hazards, according to new research by the insurance industry.
Analysis by the Insurance Information Network of California and Verisk Insurance Solutions -- Underwriting, a unit of Verisk Analytics, (Nasdaq: VRSK), reveals that the majority of high-risk homes are located in Southern California. However, rural Northern California counties are not exempt, as many of these regions have the highest percentage of homes exposed to extreme fire dangers.
Wildfire Risk: A County-by-County ViewIn California, more than 2 million of the state's 13.7 million homes sit in high to severe wildfire regions. To view the numbers of homes in low, moderate and extreme areas, scroll over each county for details. The criteria for determining wildfire risk in each county include: Fuels -- trees, grass and brush that feed fuels; slope -- the grade of the surrounding land that impacts the speed and intensity of a wildfire; access -- condition of roads leading to the area.
Wildfire Risk AnalysisWildfires represent one of the most significant threats to people, homes and property in all of California’s 58 counties. Though nearly three-quarters of the housing units in the state fall within a “low” wildfire risk range, there are still more than 2 million that sit in some of the states’ most dangerous territories.
California Fire Risk County BreakdownThis chart provides a detailed look at the state down to the county level. Indicated are the number of homes exposed to the various risk categories as well as the percentage of homes in each county exposed.
