Wildfire Prepared: Making Homes and Communities More Survivable and Insurable

Overview

Length: 1 Hour + 30 min of optional Q&A

As wildfires continue to impact communities across the country, understanding how homes ignite and what can be done to reduce risk has become increasingly important across the built environment. This course will provide an overview of wildfire behavior, structure survivability, and the growing role of science-based mitigation in improving resilience and supporting long-term insurability in wildfire-prone regions.

Participants will hear how the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) uses full-scale wildfire experiments at the IBHS Research Center, along with post-fire field investigations following major wildfire events, to better understand the factors that contribute to structure loss. The session will also introduce the Wildfire Prepared program and explore how research-driven mitigation strategies, construction practices, and material choices can help reduce vulnerabilities from embers, flames, and radiant heat while supporting more resilient and insurable homes and communities.

Recommended Audience

Architects / Builders / Contractors / Code Officials / Engineers / Raters / Verifiers / Electric Utilities and Utility Program Implementation Staff

Level: Skilled
For participants with some experience or prior exposure to this topic. Ideal for professionals looking to deepen applied knowledge and build on their current practices.
 

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Continuing Education

AIA LU/HSW: 1 CE
OR CCB: 1 CE
BPI: 1 CE
ICC: 0.1 CE
NATE: 1 CE
 

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Trainers

Steve Hawks | Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety | View Bio

 

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This training made possible at no cost thanks in part to BetterBuiltNW