SGI says they will no longer supply new home insurance for homes currently threatened by forest fires.
Don Thompson, Vice President for Project Management with SGI, says they established a deadline on July 3 because of the situation.
He says they will not take on a new home policy when a risk of a forest fire is prevalent in the area.
“We expect people to have home insurance in place year round,” says Thompson. “We don’t people just buying an insurance policy when a forest fire is about to happen close to their property.”
Thompson says during every forest fire season they assess new applications for policies to determine if they are approved.
Earlier today, the provincial government urged evacuees to contact their insurance broker because their living expenses may be covered under their pre-existing coverage plan.
Minister responsible for SGI Don McMorris says some coverage options have a mass evacuation coverage option.
He says this option may cover accommodations, fuel, meals and transportation costs during the evacuation.
The government says to find out what coverage is available, evacuees should call their insurance broker.