The Travelers Companies, Inc. today announced it is including a Wildfire Defense Services endorsement in all California home and landlord policies. The endorsement, included at no additional cost to the policyholder, helps provide an added layer of wildfire protection for customers. Travelers is working with Wildfire Defense Systems (WDS), a private firm that specializes in wildfire mitigation, to help provide loss prevention services, such as reducing potential fuel sources, taping vents and applying fire retardants.
“With its industry-leading services and deep experience in wildfire management, Wildfire Defense Systems can help us reach and protect more California homes in the event of an emergency,” said Michael Klein, Executive Vice President and President of Personal Insurance at Travelers. “This endorsement adds a significant amount of value to our home insurance products and provides extra peace of mind to our customers.”
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety points out that wildfires can quickly spread when wind-blown burning embers land on combustible parts of a building, fall near combustible vegetation or enter into homes through vents. Deck and patio furniture, gutters, awnings, wood piles and areas where pine needles or leaves accumulate are also some of the places where embers can ignite a home or another building on a property.
To help mitigate these threats, WDS uses proprietary forecasting and threat analysis to identify Travelers customers who could be impacted by a wildfire and then utilizes other resources to take preventive measures, if possible. WDS’ services supplement those of local emergency personnel who are deployed before, during and after active wildfires. In an emergency, WDS works to provide services to as many homes as possible based on a variety of factors, including resources, weather conditions, the fire’s proximity and the company’s safety guidelines.
The Wildfire Defense Services endorsement is subject to policy terms and does not apply to customers that have fire coverage through the California FAIR Plan or a Difference in Conditions endorsement with Travelers.
For more information about the endorsement, visit travelers.com/WildfireDefense.
About Travelers
The Travelers Companies, Inc. is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Travelers has approximately 30,000 employees and generated revenues of approximately $30 billion in 2018. For more information, visit www.travelers.com.