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wildfires


News ClaimsInsurance

B.C. wildfire season now second worst in province’s history

August 27, 2018 The Canadian Press

VICTORIA – A year after the single worst season for wildfires in British Columbia’s history, government statistics indicate the 2018 wildfire season has already reached the second-worst mark, burning more than 9,450 square kilometres of land so far. That should

News Risk

How smoke from B.C. wildfires affects this industry

August 24, 2018 Beth Leighton - THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER – Winemakers can only hope the scent of smoke that’s in the air across British Columbia from wildfires won’t swirl in the glass once this year’s vintages have been bottled. Smoke-shrouded grapes can give an ashy, bitter flavour to

News Risk

B.C. declares provincial state of emergency over wildfires

August 15, 2018 The Canadian Press

VICTORIA – The British Columbia government has declared a provincial state of emergency to support the response to the hundreds of wildfires burning across the province. The state of emergency will remain in effect for 14 days, but can be

News Markets / Coverages

Should Canada reconsider how it finances wildfire suppression?

August 13, 2018 by Jason Contant

As hundreds of wildfires burn across British Columbia, one disaster mitigation expert is recommending that Canada reconsiders how it finances fire suppression costs. Last year, B.C. alone paid out more than $560 million in fire suppression costs, and it is

News Claims

Wildfires ravage 30-45% of structures in B.C. community

August 8, 2018 The Canadian Press

VANCOUVER – Wildfires have ravaged 27 structures in Telegraph Creek, representing 30 to 45 per cent of buildings in the small northwestern British Columbia community, officials say. Tahltan Band Chief Rick McLean said in a video posted to Facebook on

News CatastrophesInsuranceMarkets / Coverages

Ask B.C. residents if they are covered for wildfire. 25% will tell you this…

March 21, 2018 by Jason Contant

As many as 25% of British Columbians say they don’t know if they have insurance for wildfire and severe weather emergencies, according to a survey released Monday by the provincial public safety ministry. Fewer than half of British Columbians have

News CatastrophesClimate ChangeInsurance

B.C. lacks climate change policies, especially on wildfires and flooding: audit

February 15, 2018 The Canadian Press (CPSTF)

VANCOUVER – British Columbia’s auditor general says the provincial government is working to adapt to the risks posed by climate change but it has no clear plan for wildfires and flooding. Carol Bellringer says there is little monitoring of progress

News CatastrophesClimate ChangeInsuranceMarkets / CoveragesReinsurance

Insurers, society face irreversible climate change: reinsurance board exec

December 19, 2017 Greg Meckbach, Associate Editor

Wildfires that hit British Columbia earlier this year and that continue to affect California are among the effects of climate change, says Karen Gavan, former CEO of Waterloo, Ont.-based Economical Insurance. “Literally California has been burning all fall,” said Gavan,

News InsuranceMarkets / Coverages

Man ordered to pay $41K in fines for starting wildfires in northern Saskatchewan

November 29, 2017 The Canadian Press (CPSTF)

LA RONGE, Sask. – A man who admitted he started several wildfires in northern Saskatchewan by flicking lit wooden matches into the forest has been fined tens of thousands of dollars. Donald Halkett Jr. recently appeared in La Ronge provincial

News CatastrophesClaimsInsuranceMarkets / Coverages

California wildfires could cost insurers up to US$8 billion: Aon Benfield

November 9, 2017 by Canadian Underwriter

Historic wildfires in portions of California last month could cost insurers as much as US$8 billion, according to Aon Benfield’s Global Catastrophe Recap for October. The report, released on Thursday by Impact Forecasting, the catastrophe modelling development centre of Aon

News CatastrophesClaimsInsuranceMarkets / Coverages

California asks US for $7.4 billion for wildfire rebuilding

November 6, 2017 Olga R. Rodriguez - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SAN FRANCISCO – California Gov. Jerry Brown and lawmakers asked the U.S. government Friday for $7.4 billion to help rebuild after a cluster of fires tore through the heart of wine country, killing more than 40 people and leaving thousands

News CatastrophesClaimsInsuranceMarkets / Coverages

Insured losses from October wildfires top $3 billion, California insurance department reports

November 2, 2017 by Canadian Underwriter

Insured losses from California’s October wildfires now top US$3 billion – a three-fold increase in just two weeks – according to updated claims loss data from the California Department of Insurance. Fifteen major insurers reported the updated $3.32 billion estimate