Wildfire Preparedness Guide

New Wildfire Preparedness Guide helps Washington homeowners better protect their homes

As wildfire season continues across Washington, homeowners have a new resource to help them better understand wildfire risk and take practical steps to protect their homes and communities.

The Washington Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network, a program of the Washington RCD (WRCD) has released the IBHS Wildfire Prepared Resource Guide, a resource designed to help homeowners reduce wildfire risk through research and locally informed mitigation strategies. The guide highlights practical actions that can make homes more resilient to wildfire and provides information about the relationship between home hardening, defensible space and insurance through the IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home certification, a program recently green-lighted for use in Washington.

Developed in collaboration with the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) and Office of Insurance Commissioner (OIC), the guide is intended to help homeowners make informed decisions before wildfire threatens their neighborhoods.

"Wildfire is a fact of life for many Washington communities, but there are practical steps homeowners can take to better protect their property," said Kenton Brine, president of the NW Insurance Council. "The IBHS Wildfire Prepared Resource Guide helps homeowners understand what those steps are and why they matter. It's an excellent resource for anyone who wants to reduce risk before the next wildfire threatens their community."

The guide covers topics including:

• Understanding wildfire risk
• Creating and maintaining defensible space
• Home hardening improvements that reduce wildfire vulnerability
• Preparing for wildfire season
• Insurance considerations for homeowners
• Additional wildfire preparedness resources

Homeowners can access the guide through the Washington Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network at:

https://www.fireadaptedwashington.org/toolkit/insurance/

The guide can also be downloaded directly at:

https://www.fireadaptedwashington.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IBHS-Wildfire-Prepared-Resource-Guide.pdf

The NW Insurance Council encourages homeowners to prepare for wildfire season by understanding their property's wildfire risk, reviewing their insurance coverage annually, documenting their belongings with a home inventory, and taking steps to reduce the likelihood that a wildfire could damage their home.

For more information about property and casualty insurance, contact NW Insurance Council at (800) 664-4942.