In response to the wildfires that broke out this year up and down the state, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara signed an order protecting hundreds of thousands of Californians’ insurance policies.
While homeowners and local leaders are grateful to have that safety net, the moratorium only lasts a year, and many are worried about the future.
When the Washington Fire broke out in Sonora this past summer, Betsy Hurst told FOX40 she was ready to evacuate if she got the call.
“I packed my suitcase. I packed food. I packed our travel trailer and I left them by the front door,” Hurst recalled. “It didn’t matter how far you were from it. It seemed like you could feel ashes falling on your property.”
The threat of wildfire is a way of life that comes at a high cost for people living in rural counties, like Tuolumne.
“I’ve seen them anywhere from $1,800 for the year to over $3,500. I’ve heard people say that they’ve gotten quotes of $6,000,” Hurst said.
Home and fire insurance comes at a premium and homeowners are at the mercy of companies who can cancel their policies or decline to renew them.
