Wildfire

Wildfire Awareness

During peak wildfire months of May and June in New Mexico, it’s important that residents take steps to reduce wildfire risk, create a defensible space around their home and property, and review their current insurance coverage.

Preparation today can make a major difference tomorrow. During these high-risk wildfire months – but also all throughout the year – remember, even small actions can prevent devastating fires. Check out the video below on summer safety tips, how to prepare and harden your home against wildfire, and other preparation tips.

Before a Wildfire 

• Create a home inventory 
  It may seem hard to record information about everything in your house, but this tool will ensure your insurance claim will be settled faster and easier. Taking pictures or video can also be a great help to filing your claim. Click here to access our home inventory form. 
• Put important documents in a fire-safe location. 
  Gather your insurance policy, your home inventory and other important documents and store them in a fireproof safe. Another option is a safe deposit box at a bank.
• Read your homeowners or renters insurance policy carefully to fully understand your coverage and your rights. 
  You’ll be most satisfied with your settlement if you know in advance what’s covered. If you have questions, ask your agent or call your insurance company.

What Does OSI Do To Aid New Mexicans Against Wildfire?

The Office of Superintendent of Insurance supports residents in preparing for wildfires, recovering after disasters, understanding their coverage, managing insurance claims, and, above all – staying informed, prepared, and safe. Check out the video below for more information on what OSI does to aid New Mexicans against wildfire.

Wildfire Prepared Home program

OSI encourages New Mexico residents to take advantage of a helpful program to assist in hardening your home against wildfire. The Wildfire Prepared Home program, which was developed by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (I”BHS), is a homeowner-led process that starts with clearing out anything flammable within five feet of your house. After showing an evaluator that you’ve taken steps to harden your home and property against wildfire risk, you can receive a certificate that can ultimately help lower your insurance rate. Check out the video below to learn more about the program and visit Wildfireprepared.org

After a Wildfire 

• When the fire has been extinguished, contact your insurance agent or insurance company as soon as possible.
  Ask what information they will need to process your claim. Provide that information, including your contact information, if you cannot live in your home.
• Stop further damage to your home. 
  Be sure and take photos to document the damage, then, make necessary minor repairs to your property to prevent worsening of the damage. The insurance company has a right to inspect the property, so clean-up will have to wait. Finally, keep track of your expenses and save all your receipts because your insurance company may reimburse you.

New Mexico Counties 2022-2023 Wildfire Risk Reduction Program for Rural Communities 

New Mexico Counties is pleased to announce the 2022-2023 Wildfire Risk Reduction Program for Rural Communities. The grant program assists at-risk communities throughout New Mexico in reducing their risk from wildland fire on non-federal lands. Funding for this program is provided by the National Fire Plan through the Department of the Interior/Bureau of Land Management for communities in the wildland-urban interface and is intended to directly benefit communities that may be impacted by wildland fire initiating from or spreading to BLM public land. 

Funding categories include:

• CWPP updates up to $20,000/project 
• Education and outreach activities up to $15,000/project 
• Hazardous fuels reduction projects up to $75,000/project 

Please click here to access the NM Counties Programs