Idaho Fire Insurance

Find the right fire insurance policy for you.

Written by Steve Dahl
Written by Steve Dahl

Steve is a financial services expert who has dedicated himself to the insurance industry for the last 5+ years. Steve is a key contributor to TrustedChoice.com.

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If you're a resident of Idaho, you reside in one of the most beautiful states in the nation. From picturesque mountain landscapes to a vibrant, lively arts community, Idaho is one of a kind. The state is also notorious for fires. Idaho is one of the top states for wildfires. When a drought or the dry season hits, the hills and plains go up in smoke, so it's crucial to remain aware and prepared in case of a fire. One major way to protect yourself is to have adequate fire insurance covering your home, business, and assets. Find out more about how to get quotes and coverage in case of a fire.

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Idaho Fire Statistics

  • Idaho had more than 7,000 fires in recent years.
  • The fire department responded to a fire every 1.2 hours in recent years.
  • In recent years, a house caught fire every 4.4 hours and a vehicle caught fire every 11.5 hours in Idaho.
  • In Idaho, wildfires were the most reported type of fire in recent years, with building fires coming in at a close second.

Idaho is notorious for wildfires. These fires start with a simple spark or dry heat and quickly burn out of control. Many times, fire departments arrive too late to control the entire fire and putting out the blazes becomes a long, dangerous, evolving process. House fires also start easily and do damage quickly. Awareness and quick response are crucial to putting out a house fire. It's also important to protect your home before a fire by installing smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and sprinkler systems in commercial locations. 

Additionally, having well-marked exits, along with a posted fire escape plan, is critical to getting people out quickly and safely during a fire. Once everyone is safe and the fire is out, you can repair the damage. Having fire insurance protecting your Idaho home or business is the best way to recover after a devastating blaze.

What Is Fire Insurance?

The sole purpose of fire coverage is to provide protection for your belongings and assets in case of a fire. You probably already have fire insurance if you carry any of the following policies:

  • Home insurance: Your home insurance policy includes coverage for fires. This covers the structure of the house, and, typically, any attached structures. It has a separate policy included that usually covers 50 percent of the home's policy value in belongings. For example, if you have a $200,000 home insurance policy, your contents coverage would be $100,000. There are two forms of reimbursement with this policy, either actual cost value, which takes the value of the damaged items and calculates depreciation before reimbursement, or replacement cost value, which does not take depreciation into consideration.
  • Renters insurance: If you are a renter, the owner of the property carries insurance on the structure, but your contents are not included. If a fire occurs, you are responsible for replacing your belongings, unless you have a renters insurance policy in place.
  • Business insurance: If you're a business owner, having business insurance in place is important. Most business insurance policies cover fire damage. It's important to make sure you cover all your business assets, however.

As you can see, some policies typically include fire damage. Always make sure that your insurance limits adequately cover your assets so if a fire does happen, you won't be paying out of pocket.

What About Your Car, Boat, Truck or ATV?

Many people believe that their homeowners insurance will cover their car, truck, boat or RV. Unfortunately, the specifics of your policy may rule out these items unless you store or house them in the home's garage. In order to get fire coverage for these items, you must have comprehensive insurance. Insurers typically require this insurance at the time of purchase to protect their investment and yours. It covers "everything other than collision." However, once the loan is paid, this insurance is optional. If you don't keep comprehensive insurance on these items, you most likely will not have coverage in case of a fire.

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Reasons Why Fire Claims May Be Denied in Idaho

Unfortunately, insurance does not cover some fires. It's a wise idea to be familiar with policy exclusions before a fire occurs. Fire insurance may not cover fires under the following circumstances:

  • When the homeowner refuses to call the fire department
  • If the homeowner has not installed smoke detectors, fire extinguishers or fire sprinklers if it's a commercial unit
  • If the fire is due to negligence on the part of the homeowner – for example, using a hot plate in the home, etc.

What Are Fire Insurance Quotes Like in Idaho?

Fire insurance will vary depending on which asset you're looking to insure. When searching for fire insurance, be sure to have general information about the item available so your agent can give you accurate quotes. Some of the questions they may ask are the following:

  • The age/make/model of the asset(s)
  • The value of the asset(s)
  • Location of asset(s)
  • Storage of asset(s)
  • Your credit score
  • Whether you own or are financing the asset(s)
  • Your driving record
  • Preferred coverage amount
  • Preferred deductible amount

Insurers consider all of these factors plus more, depending on the item, before giving you quotes.

Are There Discounts Available on Fire Insurance in Idaho?

There are, typically, many discounts available on fire insurance policies. These discounts help you save money, while also giving you the coverage you need. Every insurance agency offers different discounts, so be sure to ask about all available discounts. Usual discounts include the following:

  • New customer discount
  • Loyal customer discount
  • Claims-free discount
  • Paid-in-full discount
  • Good driver discount
  • Student discount
  • Military discount
  • Educator discount
  • Industry affiliation discount

You may be eligible for many of these discounts, so always be sure to ask about any discounts that you may not be taking advantage of.

How To Get Fire Insurance in Idaho

When shopping for fire insurance to cover your assets, having a knowledgeable professional on your side is a huge advantage. An independent insurance agent is always available to answer questions, suggest coverage and even help you file a claim.

Contact your neighborhood agent for quotes and help to get coverage.

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