Las Vegas Business Press :: News : Teaching an OUNCE of PREVENTION

Teaching an OUNCE of PREVENTION

BY VALERIE MILLER

Insurance companies concede that paying policy claims is part of the cost of doing business, but one insurer is taking an innovative approach to prevention as wildfire season nears.

Chubb Insurance is hitting the road with a 30-state wildfire-prevention demonstration across Western states, including Nevada, to teach homeowners how they can protect what is likely the biggest investment they'll ever make. The New Jersey-based insurer has teamed with a consultant, Wildfire Defense Services, to teach prevention and help first responders fight wildfires.

The tour stopped in Las Vegas last week, with Chubb and Wildfire Defense bringing teams to several businesses that sell Chubb's property-casualty insurance. Among those locally were Cragin & Pike Insurance and Marsh Private Client Service. The team, which includes private firefighters and a custom fire truck, conducted a demonstration and training session June 2-3. Clearing away burnable materials and using the correct fire-protecting gel were included in the talking points, Wildfire Defense Services President Dave Togerson said.

JEFERSON APPLEGATE | BUSINESS PRESS
Chubb Insurance is hitting the road with a 30-state wildfire-prevention demonstration across Western states. Chubb's team, which visited Las Vegas, includes private firefighters and a custom fire truck. The team conducted a demonstration and training.

JEFERSON APPLEGATE | BUSINESS PRESS

Togerson's company developed the program for the last three years and struck the deal with Chubb about a year ago. The timing is now right for its debut, he said.

"We are bringing it out in time for the fire season," Togerson said.

He added that the team isn't intended to replace first responders. Instead, the Wildfire Defense engine and crew can come to help local firefighters if necessary. The team met with county and city firefighters during their two-day tour of Las Vegas.

Chubb has been in the local market for about 25 years and has "about a couple of thousand" policyholders in Las Vegas. The company doesn't see the valley's homeowners as likely to lose their homes to wildfire, said Tom Kammerer, the insurer's marketing manager for the Rocky Mountain states.

"In the Las Vegas Valley market, we show off the program to affluent individuals. They might want to get a second house in a cooler climate," Kammerer said. "Our insureds tend to have secondary homes."

Those homes also tend to be in wildfire-risk areas, such as California, Utah and Arizona, he added.

Wildfire prevention education, Chubb offers free to policyholders, includes tips for clearing a path around a home so firefighters can protect it. Cutting dry tree limbs 10 to 12 feet off the ground, and clearing away pine needles and weeds from the yard as preventative measures, Kammerer said. Burying, or moving propane tanks away from homes, is advised, along with clearing tree branches that touch rooftops.

"In truth, we won't be able to save every home," Kammerer said. "But the good news is they have Chubb Insurance to back it up."

Contact reporter Valerie Miller at vmiller@lvbusinesspress.com or 702-387-5286

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