What to know about home insurance if you’ve been displaced by B.C. or N.W.T. wildfires

While starting a claim sooner may help you get reimbursed sooner, IBC said personal claims can usually be reported within two years of finding out about the damage or loss.

All standard homeowner and tenant insurance policies cover damage caused by wildfires, and also provide coverage to help with the cost of mass evacuations, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC).

“While the focus remains on public safety and firefighting efforts, anyone forced to evacuate or whose property has been damaged can contact their insurance representative when they are ready to start the claims process,” said Aaron Sutherland, IBC’s vice-president for the Western and Pacific region, in a news release Sunday.

Devastating wildfires have forced thousands from their homes in the Northwest Territories and the B.C. interior over the past week.

A provincial state of emergency was enacted in B.C., with around 30,000 people under evacuation order as of Sunday.

It’s too early to provide estimates of insured damages from the fires as they are still ongoing, said IBC.

In a news release Sunday, the organization advised anyone forced to flee in the Northwest Territories and British Columbia to make a list of damaged or destroyed items and keep receipts for expenses they incurred.

Document everything — the more details, the better when it comes to making a claim, said IBC.

In addition to your home and personal property, your insurance may cover the contents of your freezer if it’s spoiled after a power interruption, it said.