California Wildfires Stress Insurance and Preparedness in The Southwest
The Reader checks-in with local insurance expert and self-proclaimed “Fire Safety Queen,” Ashley Dalton
As wildfires rage in the Los Angeles area and parts of the Southwest, it’s natural for southern mountain community residents to feel vulnerable as the 2025 fire season approaches The Sacramentos. Safety, water, insurance and recovery are top of mind.
The devastating fires in Ruidoso and blazes near Cloudcroft and Timberon last year are reminders of the area’s exposure. The Reader reached out to local insurance agent Ashley Dalton of Ashley Dalton Agency and asked her how the winter fires will affect homeowners’ insurance in extreme fire-risk zones like Cloudcroft. Here’s what she had to say:
“In some fraction, yes. This will drain reserves and those reserves will have to be put back, but they were already on the road to minimize mountain town exposures, so there is not much more ‘pulling out’ that can be done. The mass exodus has started before.
Rates will go up to offset the costs. It’s the same with North Carolina and the flooding. FEMA will have to put some money back in reserves.
Insurance companies use the word ‘risk pooling.’ We all share the risks. When the joint account gets low, everyone shares in putting it back. High wildfire zones drain that fund. In California, though, the fair plan will also take a big hit. Many of those areas had already been labeled ‘high wildfire’ zones, and A-rated insurance carriers had left. So the state will absorb. But the carriers are who fund it, so it will trickle down to the carriers to replace.”
Hear more of Dalton’s insurance insights for high-risk areas in our Fire Risk Forum video from last year. Speakers from the Forest Service, The New Mexico Forestry Division, Otero County Electric Cooperative, and Cloudcroft Fire Department offer advice on protecting your home and property from wildfire.
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