For richer Californians, private firefighters help battle blaze
Some California homeowners eager to save their properties -- and themselves -- from the wildfires raging across parts of the state have an advantage others don't: private firefighters. Several major property casualty insurers began hiring out private fire departments roughly a decade ago to protect their high-end clients.
This coverage comes with a high price tag, but it can be worth it given the death and destruction from the "Camp Fire" still burning in Northern California, as well as other mega-fires that have devastated the U.S. in recent years.
"One of our clients had his house burned down," said Bruce Gendelman, chairman of a high-net worth insurance broker who sells policies for the PURE Group of Insurance Companies. "But the two people next door didn't get out."
These high-end insurance policies have drawn criticism, with some noting that most homeowners can't afford them. In a city like Malibu in Southern California, an "ultra deluxe" policy would range from $2,500 to $8,000 a year depending on construction, fire protection systems, deductibles and a home's contents, among other factors. And while insurers normally refuse to discuss the cost of their policies, Gendelman said carriers typically only offer high-end fire protection on homes worth $2 million and up.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/for-richer-californians-private-firefighters-help-battle-blaze/ar-BBPJQgx?li=BBnb7Kz
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