Wildfire season has become endemic to life in the western United States. The beautiful forests that make the West Coast so desirable are burning at an alarmingly destructive rate, intensifying with each passing year. Climate change and forest management - or lack thereof - are contributing factors, but what does this new reality mean for the at-risk property owner?The escalation of wildfire season has contributed to a rise in the material costs of lumber, and the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to a labor shortage. This means that typical homeowners insurance policies may not be enough to rebuild after a wildfire. Recent surveys conducted by United Policyholders (UP), a nonprofit organization, found that the biggest barrier to recovery after wildfires is being underinsured.I
