Canadian insurer rolls out pilot to assist in wildfire home protection
Global News
Intact Financial Corporation on Tuesday announced a partnership to provide eligible Albertans and British Columbians with wildfire loss prevention and suppression services.
Wildfires are already burning in parts of Western Canada and with warnings of a particularly active season yet again this year, the country’s largest property and casualty insurer is testing a pilot project to help eligible Canadians protect their homes.
Intact Financial Corporation on Tuesday announced a partnership with Montana’s Wildfire Defense Systems to provide eligible Albertans and British Columbians with loss prevention and suppression services when their homes are threatened by wildfires less than five kilometres away.
If a fire gets that close to the home, trained fire personnel will undertake tasks including the removal of materials around the property that could fuel a fire — like firewood or propane tanks — and covering exterior vents and closing exterior windows and doors. The crews may also set up temporary sprinkler systems, which would potentially temper fire activity nearby, but also fire retardant if necessary to prevent further damage to a home.
Rosa Nelson, vice-president of sales and business development, Alberta and Prairies, at Intact, told Global News the crews will be provided by Wildfire Defense Systems and come from across the border, but stressed they were not concerned about the location as they “mobilize very, very quickly.”
Crews will also determine if a threat has subsided, and will put back items that were previously removed.
“It really is an opportunity for us to help with this climate change adaptation problem that we’re all struggling with today,” Nelson told Global News.
The pilot program is set to last throughout the 2024 wildfire season.
Anabela Bonada, climate science director at the University of Waterloo’s Centre on Climate Adaptation, said several of the tasks are “FireSmart measures,” often done by firefighters. This program could take some of that weight off their shoulders.
