{"id":852897,"date":"2025-05-20T13:28:44","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T17:28:44","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-05-20T13:28:44","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T17:28:44","slug":"mercury-insurance-teams-up-with-insurance-institute-for-business-home-ibhs-safety-to-promote-wildfire-preparedness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/mercury-insurance-teams-up-with-insurance-institute-for-business-home-ibhs-safety-to-promote-wildfire-preparedness\/","title":{"rendered":"Mercury Insurance Teams Up with Insurance Institute for Business & Home (IBHS) Safety to Promote Wildfire Preparedness"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PR Newswire<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Homeowners in wildfire-prone areas can earn insurance discounts through IBHS certification program<\/i>
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\n LOS ANGELES<\/span>
\n <\/span>, May 20, 2025<\/span><\/span> \/PRNewswire\/ — Wildfires are posing ever-increasing threats to communities around the country and Mercury Insurance is partnering with the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) to help homeowners act before disaster strikes. Through this collaboration, Mercury policyholders in wildfire-susceptible areas may qualify for a discount on their premiums by participating in the IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home certification program.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The certification program encourages homeowners to make meaningful, real-world improvements to harden their homes against wildfire risk. Mercury customers who earn the Wildfire Prepared Home designation may be eligible for a discount on the Catastrophe Fire portion of their premium. Homeowners should contact their Mercury agent for eligibility and program details.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“IBHS offers homeowners the ability to certify their homes against severe weather risks specific to their area, including wildfires. The program is based on more than 10 years of carefully executed research,” said Kelly Butler<\/span>, VP and Chief Underwriting Officer at Mercury Insurance. “Many of Mercury’s customers reside in California<\/span>, and preparedness is the key to protecting our homes and communities \u2014 wildfires don’t wait, and neither should we.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to IBHS, 4.8 million U.S. homes are identified as high or extreme risk of wildfire, with more than 2 million located in California<\/span>. Losses from wildfires have added up to $5.1 billion<\/span> in just the past 10 years. IBHS believes that improving building codes and installation practices will result in reduced losses.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home Certification<\/b>\n <\/p>\n

To get your home IBHS certified, you’ll need to\u00a0participate in either the FORTIFIED or Wildfire Prepared Home program.\u00a0While FORTIFIED focuses on general severe weather resilience, Wildfire Prepared Home is specifically designed to address wildfire threats through proven mitigation strategies.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Steps for Wildfire Prepared Home certification include:<\/p>\n

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  1. \n Apply:<\/b> Register on the\u00a0IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home portal<\/a>\u00a0and pay the application fee.<\/li>\n
  2. \n Inspection:<\/b> An IBHS-authorized evaluator will conduct an external inspection of your property and take photographs.<\/li>\n
  3. \n Compliance:<\/b> If your home doesn’t meet all requirements, you’ll receive a list of mitigation actions and an opportunity to bring it into compliance.<\/li>\n
  4. \n Ongoing Maintenance:<\/b> You’ll need to demonstrate annual maintenance of your landscaping to retain the designation.<\/li>\n
  5. \n Certificate:<\/b> Once all of the requirements have been met, IBHS will issue the appropriate certificate.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    There are two levels of certification:\u00a0<\/p>\n

    \n Wildfire Prepared Base \u2013<\/b> Requires defensible space within 5 feet of the home, preparing the home’s exterior, and maintaining the deck\/covered porch and yard to prevent ember ignition.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    \n Wildfire Prepared Plus \u2013<\/b> Includes all Base-level requirements plus an extra layer of home protection for flames and radiant heat that is common with new home construction or exterior home renovations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    All homes eligible for certification must fulfill the following requirements:\u00a0<\/p>\n