Does homeowners insurance cover wildfires in 2025? (Coverage Explained)
Wondering does homeowners insurance cover wildfires? Unless wildfires are listed as an excluded peril, home insurance covers wildfire damages and losses up to your policy limit. A $200K wildfire home insurance policy starts at $70 a month, though rates may be higher in high-risk wildfire states.
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Brad Larson
Licensed Insurance Agent
Brad Larson has been in the insurance industry for over 16 years. He specializes in helping clients navigate the claims process, with a particular emphasis on coverage analysis. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah in Political Science. He also holds an Associate in Claims (AIC) and Associate in General Insurance (AINS) designations, as well as a Utah Property and Casual...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Jan 30, 2025
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right legal decisions.
We strive to help you make confident insurance and legal decisions. Finding trusted and reliable insurance quotes should be easy. This doesn’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything legal and insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by experts.
UPDATED: Jan 30, 2025
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right legal decisions.
We strive to help you make confident insurance and legal decisions. Finding trusted and reliable insurance quotes should be easy. This doesn’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own.
On This Page
Does homeowners insurance cover wildfires? The majority of home insurance policies will include wildfires as a covered peril, but some companies may choose to exclude coverage if you live in a high-risk state for wildfires.
Fires are one of the seven most dangerous threats facing American homeowners, so it is important to check your home insurance policy to ensure you have wildfire insurance. You may also want to adjust coverage amounts for better protection.
Read on to learn more about wildfire insurance coverage and your home insurance policy. If you don’t have coverage for wildfires, our free quote tool can help you find coverage from companies in your area.
- Home insurance will usually cover wildfires unless it’s an excluded peril
- You may have to buy wildfire insurance as an add-on rider at some companies
- Wildfire insurance can be costly in high-risk wildfire states
Home Insurance Coverages for Wildfire Damages
As long as a wildfire isn’t listed as an excluded peril on your home insurance policy, several common coverages will help pay for damages and losses from a wildfire.
Home Insurance Coverages That Protect Against Wildfires| Coverage | What it Covers |
|---|---|
| Additional Living Expenses | Temporary housing if your home becomes uninhabitable |
| Dwelling | Repair or replacement value of your home |
| Liability | Legal & medical bills for injuries on property |
| Other Structures | Detached structures from the home, like sheds and fences |
| Personal Property | Belongings such as furniture, electronics, and clothing |
Your home insurance policy will cover wildfires as long as they are not an excluded peril on your policy. If it is an excluded peril, home insurance won’t cover any of the damages and losses from a wildfire.
You can find out if wildfire is an excluded peril by reviewing your declaration page or contacting your home insurance company directly.
Kristine Lee Licensed Insurance Agent
You can check your policy to see which coverages you have. You may want to add or adjust these home insurance coverages if you live in an area where a wildfire is more likely to happen (Read More: Homeowners Insurance Coverage Explained).
Making minor coverage adjustments will ensure you have better financial assistance from your home insurance company after a wildfire.
Wildfire Homeowners Insurance Coverage Adjustments| Coverage | Inclusions | Adjustments |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Living Expenses (ALE) | Covers temporary living costs if home is uninhabitable | Increase coverage limit to accommodate prolonged displacements |
| Dwelling Coverage | Replacement cost for home structures | Consider higher limits or a separate fire policy |
| Liability | Covers legal costs for injuries on property | Ensure adequate coverage for increased risks |
| Other Structures | Typically covers up to 10% of dwelling coverage | May need increased coverage for outbuildings |
| Personal Property | Covers actual cash value or replacement cost | Opt for replacement cost to fully cover belongings |
We advise following the 80% rule when choosing a dwelling coverage amount. What is the 80% rule regarding fire insurance? It means that you should get coverage that will cover 80% of your home’s replacement cost. Make sure to accurately value your home, including modifications and outdoor features (Read More: The 5 Outdoor Features That Add Value To Your Home).
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What to Do if Wildfires are an Excluded Peril
If your home insurance lists wildfires as an excluded peril, you can see if they offer wildfire insurance as an add-on coverage or endorsement.
Wildfire insurance as an add-on is common in states like California, where wildfires are frequent, as wildfires cause billions of dollars of loss in these states. Take a look at the overall wildfire losses in the U.S. by year below.
If your home insurance doesn’t offer wildfire ride-on coverage, then you may want to shop at other home insurance companies to find wildfire insurance. To get an idea of how much home insurance costs, take a look at the average cost of home insurance at popular companies below.
Home Insurance Monthly Rates by Provider & Coverage Level| Insurance Company | $200K Policy | $300K Policy | $500K Policy | $1M Policy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $85 | $120 | $180 | $320 |
 | $81 | $115 | $175 | $310 |
 | $90 | $130 | $190 | $330 |
 | $75 | $110 | $170 | $300 |
 | $95 | $135 | $195 | $340 |
 | $82 | $118 | $178 | $315 |
 | $88 | $125 | $185 | $325 |
 | $80 | $115 | $175 | $310 |
 | $86 | $122 | $182 | $322 |
 | $70 | $105 | $165 | $290 |
Dwelling coverage costs will depend on the size of your home and location, as well as the risk of wildfire in your state. It will be harder to get home insurance in high fire-risk areas.
If you have trouble getting coverage and want to know how to get home insurance after a fire, you can contact your state insurance department for assistance.
Read More: Cheapest Homeowners Insurance Companies
Shopping for the Best Wildfire Home Insurance
Most of the best homeowners insurance companies will include wildfire risk insurance on a policy, but there is a chance it may be listed as an excluded peril on your policy. If so, see if you can add wildfire coverage to your policy.
If your insurance company doesn’t offer this option, which is common in high-risk areas for wildfires, you may have to shop around at different companies to find coverage for wildfires.
If you can't get wildfire insurance from your current insurer, shop at specialty insurers or work with an independent agent to find alternative wildfire coverage options.
Michelle Robbins Licensed Insurance Agent
Live in an area prone to wildfires and want to find coverage fast? Search for home insurance today by entering your ZIP in our free quote tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is wildfire included in homeowners insurance?
Wildfire damages and losses will be included in home insurance unless wildfires are listed as an excluded peril on your policy.
Does my home insurance cover natural disasters?
Home insurance will cover most natural disasters unless they are listed as excluded perils. This is common in high-risk areas. For example, flooding may be excluded in areas that frequently flood unless you purchase extra flood insurance.
Can you be denied fire insurance?
Yes, you may be denied fire insurance if you live in a high-risk state like California. You may have to compare homeowners insurance quotes from several companies before you find one willing to ensure you.
Does insurance payout for fire?
Insurance will payout for fire unless the incident is listed as an exclusion.
What is a wildfire deductible?
A wildfire deductible is simply the home insurance deductible you have to pay on a covered home insurance claim.
Does homeowners insurance cover wildfires in California?
You may have trouble finding wildfire insurance in California. In most cases, you will have to pay extra to add fire insurance to your California policy (Learn More: How to Estimate Home Insurance Costs Based on Where You Live).
How much does insurance pay if a house burns down?
Insurance will pay up to your policy limit if the event is covered.
Do you have to pay a mortgage if your house burns down?
Yes, you must still pay your mortgage even if your home burns down.
What happens if your house burns down in a wildfire?
If your home burns down in a wildfire, you will need to contact your home insurance company to file a claim. Insurance will cover wildfire as long as you have the right home insurance policy (Read More: Understanding the 8 Types of Homeowners Insurance Policies).
What is not covered by homeowners insurance?
Home insurance will not cover fires caused by war or arson. Wildfires may also be an excluded peril.
What is the difference between fire insurance and homeowners insurance?
Fire insurance is a separate coverage that protects specifically against fires. It is most often sold in high-risk states as an add-on coverage. In other states, fires will often be covered by your standard home insurance policy (Learn More: How much homeowners insurance do you need?).
How much does wildfire insurance cost?
Because insurance costs vary so greatly by location, the only way to find out how much is fire insurance a month is to get quotes. Use our free tool to start shopping for home insurance today.
Does renters insurance cover wildfires?
Yes, most renters insurance policies will cover wildfires unless they are listed as an exclusion. Need to find renters insurance? Read our article on the best renters insurance companies.
What should you never do during a wildfire?
You should follow all emergency responders’ instructions and evacuation orders during a wildfire. Not following evacuation instructions could result in injury or death.
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Brad Larson
Licensed Insurance Agent
Brad Larson has been in the insurance industry for over 16 years. He specializes in helping clients navigate the claims process, with a particular emphasis on coverage analysis. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah in Political Science. He also holds an Associate in Claims (AIC) and Associate in General Insurance (AINS) designations, as well as a Utah Property and Casual...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything legal and insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by experts.
