California’s Wildfire Threat Is Real: The Insurance Fallout

Shawn Gardner
4 days ago
3 min read

Wildfires are a relentless danger in California, destroying an average of 5,600 homes each year (2015–2024)—nearly five times the 1,200 homes lost annually to internal house fires. From the 2018 Camp Fire, which burned 11,000 homes in Paradise, to the 2024 Palisades Fire, high-risk areas like Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Mateo and Alameda counties face constant peril. Compounding this threat, over 100,000 Californians have lost private insurance coverage since 2019, with State Farm alone canceling 72,000 policies in 2024, pushing 452,000 homeowners onto the costly FAIR Plan.

Homeowners in the Wildland Urban Interface are receiving cancellation notices.

At FireRoofs, we’re committed to helping you defend your home and secure your future. Our fully automated wildfire defense sprinkler systems offer unmatched protection, giving you peace of mind in California’s fire-prone regions.

The Devastating Impact of Wildfires

California’s wildfire crisis is staggering:

2017: Tubbs and Thomas Fires destroyed ~9,000 homes.
2018: Camp Fire alone claimed ~11,000 homes.
2020: CZU and North Complex Fires razed ~10,000 homes.
2024: Palisades and Eaton Fires destroyed ~3,000 homes (preliminary).

On average, wildfires destroy 5,600 homes annually, dwarfing the 1,200 homes lost to internal fires (e.g., cooking, electrical). Wildfires hit hardest in wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas like Pacific Palisades and Santa Rosa, while internal fires are more evenly spread across urban zones.

The insurance fallout is equally dire. In Pacific Palisades, 1 in 7 homeowners joined the FAIR Plan in 2024 after 1,600 policy cancellations by State Farm. With FAIR Plan premiums double the state’s private insurance average—homeowners need solutions to stay insured.

South Bay Area, risks are especially severe.

Saratoga, Los Gatos, Los Altos Hills, and Woodside Homes: These affluent communities, nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains and nearby foothills, face “high” to “very high” risk due to dense oak woodlands, chaparral, and limited evacuation routes. Homes in Saratoga and Los Gatos, with their proximity to steep, vegetated slopes, are especially vulnerable, as seen in the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire, which impacted adjacent areas. Los Altos Hills and Woodside, with large estates surrounded by flammable brush, are designated high-risk in Cal Fire’s 2025 maps, driven by windy conditions and dry fuels.
Eastern Santa Clara Hills: Areas like the Diablo Range and eastern foothills, including parts of San Jose, Morgan Hill, and Gilroy, are classified as “high” or “very high” risk due to dry grasslands, steep terrain, and strong winds. The 2020 SCU Lightning Complex Fire burned over 396,000 acres here, highlighting the threat.
Santa Cruz Mountains (Northern Edge): Neighborhoods in Los Gatos, Saratoga, and Cupertino near the mountains face “high” risk due to dense vegetation and narrow roads. The 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire reinforced the danger in this region.

FireRoofs: Your Reliable Defense

Our automated sprinkler systems are engineered to protect your home when wildfires strike:

Sprinklers Mounted on Roofs and Soffits: Strategically placed for maximum coverage.
Connected to Pools or Water Tanks: Ensures a reliable water source, even during outages.
Sprinklers Deployed with Class A Firefighting Foam: Enhances fire suppression, offering advanced protection.
Fully Automated Sprinklers: AI wildfire detection sensors and satellite wildfire mapping technology activate the system instantly, no manual intervention needed.

Our technology aligns with California’s Safer from Wildfires Framework, helping you meet insurer requirements to retain private coverage or reduce reliance on the FAIR Plan.

Why Choose FireRoofs?

In Northern California, where wildfires like the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise and the 2017 Tubbs Fire in Santa Rosa have left lasting scars, FireRoofs systems are built to protect homes in high-risk areas like , Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Mateo and Alameda counties. Engineered for reliability, our sprinklers offer peace of mind as 452,000 homeowners statewide now rely on the FAIR Plan, up 165% since 2019.