Reduce wildfire risks with our Homeowners Insurance Maine can trust!
1/26/2012 8:40:00 AM
According to the Insurance Information Institute, there were 482 reported wildfires in Maine in 2009. As well as having adequate homeowners insurance, Maine residents can take steps to reduce the risk of wildfire damage to their properties.
The Insurance Institute of Business and Home Safety (IBHS) finds that the most vulnerable part of the building is the roof, and measures to reduce fire risk will be of limited benefit if roof weakness is not addressed. The safest roof with regard to wildfire is one that is made from the least combustible materials and has a simple shape and structure.
The best roof cover materials for wildfire resistance include asphalt composition shingles, steel, clay, or concrete tiles. Other measures to improve resistance include clearing the roof and gutters of debris which could ignite, installing dual-pane tempered glass windows, and covering vents with mesh to prevent embers from entering the building. The IBHS also recommends creating a 30ft “defensible space” around your home in terms of fuel sources, flammable materials and vegetation, and replacing combustible fences with those made from ignition-resistant materials.
Improving the wildfire resistance of your property not only helps keep you and your family safer, but it could make the difference between keeping your home and having to move out and rebuild if disaster strikes. It may also mean you reduce the need for claims on your homeowners insurance Maine policy, as well as out-of-pocket costs and other expenses!
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The Insurance Institute of Business and Home Safety (IBHS) finds that the most vulnerable part of the building is the roof, and measures to reduce fire risk will be of limited benefit if roof weakness is not addressed. The safest roof with regard to wildfire is one that is made from the least combustible materials and has a simple shape and structure.
The best roof cover materials for wildfire resistance include asphalt composition shingles, steel, clay, or concrete tiles. Other measures to improve resistance include clearing the roof and gutters of debris which could ignite, installing dual-pane tempered glass windows, and covering vents with mesh to prevent embers from entering the building. The IBHS also recommends creating a 30ft “defensible space” around your home in terms of fuel sources, flammable materials and vegetation, and replacing combustible fences with those made from ignition-resistant materials.
Improving the wildfire resistance of your property not only helps keep you and your family safer, but it could make the difference between keeping your home and having to move out and rebuild if disaster strikes. It may also mean you reduce the need for claims on your homeowners insurance Maine policy, as well as out-of-pocket costs and other expenses!
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