Wildfire Preparation Q&A: Mercury Insurance Expert Answers Homeowners’ Top Questions

If you want to keep it realistic, I would start with the first five feet around the house and the places where embers can get in.
Basically, break it down into two steps:

First, address anything burnable close enough to the house that flames from it could actually reach your house, fence, or outbuilding. Often, that is within five feet, but it depends on what the material is. Take a good look around the house for things like wood mulch, grass, debris, fencing, or anything else that can burn, and make sure it is far enough away that flames would not be able to reach your home.

Second, address the places where embers could get into the house and start a fire from the inside. One common example is the attic, where embers can come in through vents. You should have screens over these entry points that have an 1/8 inch mesh or less so that embers can’t get through. Also, look for places outside the house where embers could collect, and make sure there is nothing burnable near those spots. A simple clue is where you regularly see leaves piling up, because embers can often collect in those same areas.

If there is room for one more major improvement after that, I would usually look next at the roof, gutters, and any fence-to-house or deck-to-house connections. If you have a wooden fence and it connects to your house, that’s a pathway for flames to travel. Consider changing the gate or a section of the fence closest to your house to non-burnable material, like steel or fiber cement. Wildfire loss is often about the weakest link in the system, so the goal is to reduce ember exposure first and then remove the most obvious paths for fire to spread to the structure.

For a more complete checklist, Mercury’s guide on How to Prepare for a Wildfire is a helpful next step for prioritizing wildfire prep around your home and property.

If I had to name just one thing, I would say that you should protect the first five feet around the house. That immediate zone matters a lot, because it is where embers land, where combustibles pile up, and where a small ignition can lead to a structure fire. Clearing that zone and keeping it noncombustible is one of the most important tips we hear from IBHS research findings, firefighters, and broader academic research studies.

That does not mean the rest of the property does not matter. It does. But if someone asks for the one place to start, I would start there. For homeowners looking for a broader checklist, Mercury’s home-hardening guide is a helpful next step.

Neighborhood and regional risk matter, but individual homeowner actions absolutely matter too. Recent research is showing that outcomes are shaped by both exposure and resistance. In other words, the broader fire environment matters, but so do the weak points on and around the home. That is why recent research keeps emphasizing both community conditions, like spacing between structures and connective fuels (dry vegetation and other flammable materials), and property-level actions like ember protection and defensible space (cleared space around the home).

If you are working with a limited budget, my top three would be: first, clear and maintain the first five feet around the home; second, clean roofs, gutters, and under-deck areas and keep them free of combustible debris; and third, address ember entry points such as vents, eaves, and similar openings. These are all relatively low-cost things you can do to protect your home, and they can make a big difference. They aren’t the only things that matter, but they are among the most practical and highest-value steps a homeowner can usually take without a major investment.

For Mercury customers in California, it is also worth reviewing available wildfire mitigation discounts, since some mitigation actions could earn you a discount.

The first priority is to make sure the important information leaves with you. Keep digital copies of your insurance policy, insurer and agent contact information, as well as a photo or video inventory of your home and major belongings in a cloud folder you can access from your phone. If you do have damage, report the claim as soon as it is safe to do so and document conditions carefully once authorities say you can return.

I would also pair that with basic evacuation readiness: medications, go-bags, pet carriers, multiple ways out, and a family communication plan. In a real event, a smoother claims process usually starts well before the fire with good documentation and a clear plan that includes essential items you need to take with you, where you go, and how you reconnect. Mercury’s wildfire evacuation guidance and Catastrophe Center can also be useful resources before, during, and after a wildfire event.

It’s important to do much of this work when everything is clear and calm. Go ahead and get things together now so that if you are affected by an evacuation, you aren’t stressed trying to remember everything you need in that moment.

The best thing to do is to sit down with your agent and walk through the policy now. I’d start with Coverage A, which is the amount of coverage you have to rebuild your home if it’s destroyed, Loss of Use, deductible, and any major exclusions or endorsements that could affect a wildfire claim. If you don’t understand what is and is not covered, that is exactly the conversation to have now with your agent.

If you are a Mercury customer, you should speak with your agent, or you can log in to My Account to review your policy documents, or call Mercury Customer Service at (800) 503-3724 if you want to talk to someone directly. If you are insured with another company, check your company’s online account portal or contact your agent or customer service team for the same kind of policy review.

I’d also make sure your home inventory is up to date and easy to access. It will help speed up the claims process and provide your insurance company with the detail they need to get things moving.

Yes, Mercury is renewing policies in California, and we are also writing new policies. We are not taking a uniform pullback approach and we remain as committed as ever to helping Californians get covered. I think the right response is to get more specific about the actual risk at each property and in the surrounding community, rather than treating wildfire as a simple high-hazard or low-hazard label.

What that means going forward is that assessing risk is becoming more property-specific and more tied to real conditions on and around the home. Things like defensible space (cleared space around the home), home hardening (home upgrades to help resist fire), structure spacing, connective fuels (dry vegetation or other flammable materials), and whether mitigation is being maintained over time all matter. That is also why Mercury offers a California Wildfire Mitigation Program, which is designed to recognize mitigation efforts that can help reduce wildfire risk by providing discounts for homeowners who take action to help protect their homes.

From my perspective, this increasingly works like a partnership between the insurer and the homeowner: the condition of the property matters, and the steps a homeowner takes to reduce risk can make a real difference over time.

Mercury looks at the information available for the property and the surrounding community to determine which of our wildfire mitigation discounts may apply. That can include property-level details like defensible space, vegetation management, and home-hardening features, as well as recognized community-level mitigation efforts. Current photos of the property or other documentation may be required to verify eligibility.

The best next step is to review the wildfire mitigation discount criteria, talk with your Mercury agent, and confirm what documentation is needed for your specific property.

Every policy is unique, and Mercury prides itself on helping customers find coverage tailored to their specific needs. Without reviewing your exact policy, I can’t say how wildfire would apply to your home, your limits, your deductible, or any endorsements.

In general, the best thing to do is contact your agent or customer service representative and ask them to walk through your coverage for your specific property. They can explain what is covered, whether any changes apply at renewal, and whether wildfire mitigation steps may be relevant to your policy going forward.