In the wrong place at the wrong time, wildfires can wreak havoc, threatening lives, businesses, homes, communities, and natural and cultural resources. To compound the problem, the wildland fire environment has profoundly changed over the last few decades. Longer fire seasons, bigger fires, and more extreme fires have resulted in more acres ―and more property ― being burned on average each year. Now more than ever, it is important to think about ways to protect your business and property.

There are several ways to reduce the potential for damage to your business and property from wildfire, such as:

• Creating a defensible space zone
• Properly protecting building openings
• Having a business continuity and emergency preparedness plan in place

These preventive actions and controls should be taken well ahead of the fire season, and will provide the best opportunity to prepare and reduce wildfire impact to your business and property.

If at some point your business is potentially threatened by an active wildfire, we also have a checklist to help prepare prior to evacuation.

The most important item to remember is to stay safe. Buildings and property are replaceable; you and your employees are not. Always evacuate if you feel it’s unsafe to stay. Listen to local officials and evacuation orders, but DO NOT wait to receive an emergency notification if you feel threatened from a fire.

To help you prepare for, withstand and recover from a wildfire event, Hanover has assembled information from FEMA and the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety on all aspects of wildfire preparation.

Steps to protect your business from wildfire

Last minute business wildfire preparation

Fire retardant gel―can it really help?

FEMA’s Prepare your organization for a wildfire playbook

FEMA’s How to prepare for a wildfire

Fire-resistant landscaping for your business from IBHS

Visit our Hanover Risk Solutions Property page to learn more about protecting your business and our Business continuity page to help prepare if the worst happens.

For more information on preventive actions to take, visit the organizations below:

Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) ― Wildfire Ready (https://disastersafety.org/wildfire/)

IBHS Open for Business ― Business Continuity Planning Toolkit (https://disastersafety.org/business-protection/ofb-ez/)

IBHS EZ-Prep ― Severe Weather Emergency Response and Planning Guide (https://disastersafety.org/business-protection/ez-prep/)

Ready.gov Wildfire Resources (https://www.ready.gov/wildfires)

 

 

Material in this advisory derived from the USDA and the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS).

This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide any coverage or guarantee loss prevention. The examples in this material are provided as hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. The Hanover Insurance Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“The Hanover”) specifically disclaim any warranty or representation that acceptance of any recommendations contained herein will make any premises, or operation safe or in compliance with any law or regulation.  By providing this information to you, The Hanover does not assume (and specifically disclaims) any duty, undertaking or responsibility to you.  The decision to accept or implement any recommendation(s) or advice contained in this material must be made by you.

LC 2021-362