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Home Insurance
What Washington Homeowners Should Know Before Wildfire Season
Wildfire risk is a reality of living in the Inland Northwest. We look at how to ensure your structure coverage and debris removal limits are actually sufficient for modern replacement costs.
Washington’s wildfire season is not something that happens somewhere else. In 2026 alone, the Department of Natural Resources responded to over 200 wildfires before summer even peaked. The Upriver Fire burned just outside Spokane city limits, destroying at least 15 homes and resulting in the season’s first fatality. Major fires burned tens of thousands of acres across the state, including the Tule Fire (18,625 acres), the Lambdin Fire (13,300 acres), and the Juniper Dunes Fire (10,577 acres).
If you own a home in the Spokane Valley area or anywhere in Washington, wildfire risk is real and it is growing. The question is whether your homeowners insurance actually covers what you think it covers.
Your Standard Policy Covers Fire. But Read the Details.
Every standard homeowners policy in Washington must include fire protection. That is state law. Your dwelling coverage (Coverage A) pays to repair or rebuild your home’s structure and attached fixtures. Your personal property coverage (Coverage C) protects belongings inside. And your loss of use coverage (Coverage D) pays for temporary housing, food, and transportation if you are displaced, including during mandatory evacuations.
That sounds complete. It is not.
Where Wildfire Coverage Falls Short
After a fire, clearing the remains of your home before rebuilding can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Most policies allocate only 5% of your dwelling coverage for debris removal. On a $300,000 home, that is $15,000. Actual debris removal after a total loss regularly exceeds that figure. If your debris removal costs outpace your limit, the remainder comes out of your dwelling coverage, reducing the money available to rebuild.
If your policy pays Actual Cash Value (ACV), your payout accounts for depreciation. A 15-year-old roof that costs $25,000 to replace might net you $8,000 under ACV. Replacement cost coverage pays the full cost to replace damaged property with similar materials at current prices. The difference between these two valuation methods can be tens of thousands of dollars on a single claim.
Some carriers in higher-risk areas now apply separate, elevated deductibles specifically for wildfire damage. This is different from your standard deductible and can significantly increase your out-of-pocket cost. Check your declarations page. If you see a separate wildfire deductible listed, that number applies instead of your standard deductible when fire is the cause of loss.
Detached garages, sheds, workshops, and fences fall under Coverage B (Other Structures), which is typically capped at 10% of your dwelling coverage. If you have a detached shop with $50,000 in tools and equipment, and your Coverage B limit is $30,000, the gap is yours.
What About Your Vehicles?
Your homeowners policy does not cover your car, truck, or RV. Vehicle wildfire damage requires comprehensive coverage on your auto policy. Liability and collision do not protect against fire, smoke, ash, or heat damage. If you park vehicles on your property and live in a fire-prone area, verify that comprehensive coverage is active on every vehicle.
Defensible Space and Insurability
Insurance companies use wildfire risk scoring based on your building materials, nearby vegetation, location, and defensible space. Properties with high risk scores face higher premiums, policy restrictions, or nonrenewal. Washington law requires insurers to provide 60 days notice before canceling or not renewing a policy, but that does not help if you cannot find replacement coverage.
Creating defensible space around your home (clearing brush, trimming tree limbs away from structures, using fire-resistant materials) can improve your risk profile and your insurability. Some carriers offer premium discounts for verified defensible space improvements.
What You Should Do Now
Review your policy before fire season, not after a loss. Specifically, check these five items:
- 1. Dwelling coverage amount versus your home’s current rebuild cost (construction costs have risen significantly in recent years)
- 2. Whether you carry replacement cost or Actual Cash Value
- 3. Your debris removal limit and whether it is adequate for a total loss
- 4. Your Coverage B limit relative to the actual value of outbuildings and their contents
- 5. Whether your policy has a separate wildfire deductible
A 20-minute policy review now is worth more than a coverage dispute during a claim. We review every policy for these exact gaps because we have seen what happens when they go unchecked.
