Here in Watertown, we’ve got the whole seasonal New England playbook covered. We know how to shovel out after a nor’easter, we’ve got the ice melt stocked in the garage, and we keep one eye on the forecast when July hits and the electric bill starts creeping up. We’re not naive about the weather up here — we just deal with it.
But there’s one risk that used to feel like somebody else’s problem, and increasingly… it isn’t. Wildfires.
If you’ve watched the news over the past few years, you’ve seen fire seasons get longer, more destructive, and less predictable — and not just in California or Colorado anymore. Parts of the Southeast, the Midwest, and yes, even New England have seen wildfire activity pick up.
Massachusetts isn’t immune. We’ve had brush fires in the Middlesex Fells, fires on the Cape, and dry spring seasons that create conditions nobody likes to talk about too loudly. It’s not our biggest risk — but it’s real, and it’s worth knowing where you stand before something happens.
What Does Your Homeowners Policy Actually Cover?
Good news first: you probably have more protection than you realize.
According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), a standard homeowners policy covers destruction and damage caused by fire, including wildfires — meaning your insurer will pay to rebuild or repair your home and remediate smoke damage. This coverage also extends to outbuildings on your property, like a garage or toolshed.
It doesn’t stop there. Your belongings are also insured for loss or damage under a homeowners or renters policy, and that coverage even includes theft or vandalism in the aftermath of a wildfire.
One of the most overlooked pieces of coverage? Additional Living Expenses (ALE). If your home has been rendered uninhabitable by a wildfire, your homeowners or renters insurance will reimburse you for additional living expenses — think hotel stays, meals out, and other costs you’d incur while displaced. That’s not a small thing. If you’re suddenly living out of a suitcase for weeks or months, having that coverage in place is the difference between manageable and devastating.
And don’t forget your car. The comprehensive portion of an auto insurance policy covers your vehicle against fire damage as well as vandalism. If you have a business, your business owner’s policy covers fire damage to your building, equipment, and inventory — and business interruption coverage can replace lost income if you can’t operate.
If The Worst Happens: What To Do
Hopefully you’ll never need this list. But if you do, here’s what the III recommends:
Contact your insurance professional as soon as possible. An adjuster may come out to assess the damage, and you’ll likely need to submit a “proof of loss” form documenting damaged items. Don’t throw anything away — keep damaged items until an insurance representative has assessed them. And pay attention to claim time limits, which vary by state and policy. Missing your window can mean forfeiting your right to file.
One thing that makes all of this go smoother? A home inventory. A simple list — or even a video walkthrough of your home — stored somewhere offsite (a cloud drive, a safe deposit box) can save you enormous headaches when you’re trying to remember what was in that back bedroom.
What’s “Enough” Coverage?
This is the part most people skip over. Having insurance and having enough insurance aren’t the same thing. Construction costs have risen significantly in recent years, and many homeowners are underinsured relative to what it would actually cost to rebuild their home today. It’s worth a conversation — not just a quick glance at your declarations page.
The III recommends reviewing your homeowners coverage regularly and pairing it with other protections like life insurance to make sure your family is fully financially protected against any disaster scenario.
We’re Here in Watertown — Let’s Talk.
At J.M. Whitney, we’ve been helping Greater Boston residents protect what matters most since 1950. Whether you’re a homeowner wanting to make sure your coverage is actually keeping pace with your home’s value, a renter who isn’t sure what you have, a business owner thinking through your commercial exposures, or someone in the market to buy and wanting to understand insurance before you close — we cover it all.
Personal Insurance · Commercial Insurance · Real Estate
Give us a call or visit us at jmwhitney.com. We’re your neighbors — and we’d rather have this conversation now than after the fact.
