But how likely or extensive can damage be to underground property? Here are two recent articles that indicate how serious and widespread the exposure can be, including the pollution exposure:
“Santa Rosa Fire Damage Extends Underground”
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/san-francisco-chronicle-late-edition/20180415/285172948876140
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Another-gut-punch-for-Santa-Rosa-Fire-destroys-12834914.php
“Underground Power Lines and Wildfires”
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Underground-power-lines-don-t-cause-wildfires-12295031.php
While such claims are relatively rare, providing an endorsement option to customers could be a good idea, along with using policy forms that don’t exclude underground property.
Thanks to Cliff Treese at CIRMS for the Santa Rosa link.
Photo by Mike Knell
Bill Wilson
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Fascinating reading on the underground exposure and the cost to clean-up and/or use better risk management in the future (burying power lines) at what additional expense. Horrible options for the people who lived or live in these areas. Talk about being uprooted and when they advise that the majority of wildfires are caused by humans, it makes the realization of what has been lost come home to roost. So much has been lost that will take so much time to regain…it ever.
I’ve seen photos over the years of neighborhoods where every house is destroyed except one or two. As long as you have adequate insurance, it’s probably better that you lose your house. Imagine the market value of the house(s) that remain, practically nothing, especially if the neighborhood never rebuilds.