Blog

WIFIRE Historical Fire Map

This particular map, just a small sampling of the greater work done by UCSD on this project, shows fire history throughout the United States. While we think about wildfire as cyclical and inevitable throughout our tinder-like West Coast landscape, this map shows us that, while fires are a regular ...

Why Bother with Renter's Insurance?

So, you're skeptical of renter's insurance? Many people believe that their belongings are covered under the protections of their landlord's policy or that their belongings don't necessitate coverage. Take a quick look around you to add up the value of what you can see. It adds up ...

Plants in Your Yard Vs. Wildfire

Plants Plants will either lead a wildfire to your home, or stop it. A Firescaped landscape will endure firebrands for days, intense heat for weeks, and never ignite. Below are two groups of plants that everybody in fire country should know. FIRE RETARDANT — Tests have shown that when this group ...

Your Business During COVID

As a local Insurance Agency, we work with a consistent handful of companies, names you're likely familiar with - Mercury, Liberty, Travelers, you get our drift. For one-offs and unique insurance scenarios, those larger companies we work with aren't always the right fit for our clients. That is why ...

Hot August Nights, Less Idyllic by the Year

  August 2020: The warmest summer on record for the Northern Hemisphere comes to an end Courtesy of the NOAA, 9/15/2020 The Northern Hemisphere summer ended the way it began, with blistering heat, as summer temperatures across the northern half of the planet were hottest on record, over 2°F above average, according ...

California FAIR Plan vs. Your Homeowner's Insurance

As we see an increase in the volatility and length of our fire seasons, it's hard not to worry about the future of our beloved Golden State. What does this mean for home insurance policies in California? Many insurance companies are non-renewing customers in high-risk fire zones (which at this ...

Protect Yourself From Wildfire Smoke

The CDC advises on steps to decrease your risk from wildfire smoke

Check local air quality reports. Listen and watch for news or health warnings about smoke. Find out if your community provides reports about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index (AQI) or check ...

What to do if you Suffer a Wildfire Loss

Some helpful steps to take if you're navigating the aftermath of wildfire loss! Additionally, familiarity withe these steps is very important for those of us living on land that is prone to wildfire.

Mercury Insurance is Ready to Help Victims of California Fires

Header photo by a local photographer, Marco León. The sizzling summer heat wave has sparked dozens of fires across California, forcing local authorities to issue mandatory evacuation orders for residents. Mercury Insurance is ready to assist homeowner and renter policyholders who have had to leave their homes in response ...

If You Had 5 Minutes to Evacuate, What Would You Take?

I woke at 5 AM and smelled smoke. Inside my house. I got up and looked around – no fire inside. Then I opened a window and realized it was so smoky outside that the smell had gotten into our closed-up house. It was October 9, 2017 in Santa Rosa, California. While I slept, 5% ...

Fridays are for Winning!

We've got all sorts of reasons to be glad it's almost Friday!

1. This Friday, August 7th

Join the Humane Society of Sonoma County, who have brought their annual Wags, Whiskers, and Wine event online for an out-of-this-world extravaganza! The online auction began Wednesday evening at 6pm ...

Common Myths in Fire Country

Some myth busting from our friends at Mercury Insurance. It is easy to feel defeated in fire country. The images of wildfire on TV, the headlines in newspapers, and the messages coming from public agencies can create a sense of impending doom. Anxiety often leads to inaction. But ...