‘I was just dropped’: Home insurance companies dropping Idahoans due to wildfire risk

By Abby Wilt
KTVB 7
November 24, 2024
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, US West

IDAHO, USA — Placerville is nestled behind Bogus Basin, in the Boise National Forest. The town of 53 is known for its forest solitude – but that isn’t what home insurance companies are looking for. Resident Steve Koppes was dropped from his home insurance company a year and half ago, because his home was in a wildfire-prone area. “I didn’t get notification, I didn’t get reasons. I was just dropped,” Koppes said. Koppes had had the same insurance for years, and never had a claim of any kind. …Each city is ranked on a scale by the Idaho Insurance Ratings Bureau, and Placerville has sat at a level eight since 2010. “The higher the number, the worse off you are,” Placerville Fire Chief Andrew Bourett said. He has done everything he could to make that rating lower – to make getting home insurance easier – but it’s a challenge because of Placerville’s remote location.

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