Wildfires: What does your home insurance cover?

Here are the main protections offered by your home insurance if a wildfire damages your home or personal belongings, or forces you to temporarily leave your residence.

Damage to your home and outbuildings

Your insurance generally covers material damage to your primary residence and outbuildings—a detached garage, fence or shed. It can also cover damage caused by smoke and ash, as well as by the water or foam used to put out the fire.

Good to know: Your compensation depends on your policy. Replacement cost coverage, with no deduction for depreciation, allows you to rebuild as new, while actual cash value takes the building’s depreciation into account.

Your personal belongings

Your furniture, clothing, electronics and other personal belongings are usually covered if they’re damaged by flames, smoke or ash.

If some of your belongings are used at the cottage, your insurance claim can be filed under either your home or cottage insurance policy, depending on whether they’re brought there occasionally or kept there permanently.

An up-to-date inventory of your belongings, complete with photos and proof of purchase, makes filing a claim much easier.

Living expenses in the event of evacuation

If civil authorities issue an official evacuation order due to a wildfire, your home insurance may cover certain additional expenses, such as accommodation and meals, depending on the protections included in your policy.

Good to know: A voluntary evacuation, or one made simply on the basis of a recommendation, is generally not covered.

Damage caused by smoke

Smoke, soot and ash can damage materials, belongings and ventilation systems. This damage, along with the cost of professional cleaning or decontamination, is generally covered by home insurance for a primary residence. Protections may differ for a cottage, however, even one that’s regularly occupied.

What are the exclusions in home insurance for wildfires?

Some home insurance policies may include exclusions in the event of a wildfire. To make sure you have adequate protection, check the following elements in your policy:

• Cottage or secondary residence: Coverage for living expenses or trees may differ for a seasonal property. Check whether it requires a separate policy or is included under your main policy.
• High-risk areas: A property located near a forest or grassland may be subject to wildfire-related exclusions, higher premiums, or may require a specific endorsement to be fully covered.
• Trees and landscaping: Often covered, but with a per-tree limit, which can come as a surprise in the event of significant landscaping loss.

What to do before, during and after a wildfire

Before a wildfire: Prepare your property and your family

Even though good home insurance can protect you financially, prevention also plays an important role. A few simple steps can help slow the spread of flames around your home and reduce the risk of damage:

• Create a protective buffer zone of about 10 metres around your home by clearing away vegetation and other combustible materials. Remove dead leaves, mulch, branches and firewood to reduce the risk of a wildfire spreading.
• Clean your gutters regularly.
• Keep grass short and well watered, where permitted.
• Trim shrubs and prune trees so they don’t touch your house or roof.
• Install 3mm metal mesh screens on vents (except the dryer vent) and other openings to keep embers out.
• If you’re planning renovations, choose more fire-resistant materials, such as sheet metal, brick or certain fire-rated sidings.

During a wildfire: Be ready to evacuate

As soon as a fire threatens your area or your home, take steps to protect yourself and prepare to leave:

• Close windows and shut off ventilation.
• Gather your essential documents and valuables.
• Park your vehicle so you can drive away quickly, facing forward.
• Keep enough fuel in your vehicle and have an emergency kit within reach.

If an evacuation order is issued, leave immediately. Keep the receipts for your emergency expenses (accommodation, meals, etc.) and contact your insurer as soon as possible.

If evacuation isn’t possible, take shelter in a safe location. Follow updates from your municipality, the SOPFEU and government authorities.

After a wildfire: Steps to take following a covered loss

Was your home damaged or destroyed by a wildfire? The safety of the occupants always comes first, but as soon as the situation allows:

• Report the loss to your insurer as quickly as possible.
• Draw up a detailed list of your losses and document the damage with photos and videos.
• Keep your receipts for any expenses related to temporary accommodation or emergency repairs to help support your claim.

Important: Do not throw out or replace damaged belongings before the claims adjuster designated by your insurer has assessed them, unless there’s an immediate danger that requires it.

Is your vehicle covered in the event of a wildfire?

Damage to your vehicle caused by a forest fire falls under your auto insurance.

To be covered, your policy must include all-perils coverage, comprehensive coverage (perils other than collision or upset), or specified-perils coverage.

Important: If you live in a risk zone, make sure both your auto and home insurance offer protections suited to your situation.

Wildfire prevention: A collective effort to reduce risk

In Canada, insured losses linked to climate-related disasters—including wildfires—reached a record $9.4 billion in 2024.* This underscores the importance of investing in prevention, both individually and collectively.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada is also encouraging governments to adapt land-use and building practices to today’s risks. These measures, combined with homeowners’ own efforts, can help better protect communities and reduce the impact of wildfires on homes.¹

* Insurance Bureau of Canada, Extreme weather impacts on consumers and insurers in Canada, December 2019 to December 2025: An updated analysis, news release, 2026.

FAQ — Wildfires and home insurance

1. Does home insurance cover wildfires?
Yes, your home insurance generally covers damage caused by a wildfire, but certain exclusions may apply, particularly in high-risk areas.

2. Are damages caused by smoke covered?
Yes, smoke damage is covered by most policies, even without direct contact with flames.

3. Am I covered if I have to evacuate my home because of a wildfire?
Your home insurance may cover certain living expenses, such as accommodation and meals, in the event of an official evacuation order. This protection depends on your policy, however, and generally doesn’t apply to voluntary or recommended evacuations.