Assessing Wildfire Risk: Looking at Underwriting Through a New Lens

This session will explore how underwriting can drive adoption of wildfire resilient construction, defensible space design, and science based fuel management practices, supported by real examples and emerging tools like Firewise landscaping guidance. We’ll discuss how to train underwriters and agents consistently, why industry wide change must involve insurers, states, and real estate professionals, and how AI can support, but must never replace, forestry informed assessment. We’ll also touch on regulatory hurdles and why modernizing processes like rate filing timelines is critical for accurate, timely wildfire risk pricing.