Wildfire Defence Services
We are proud to partner with Wildfire Defense Systems, Inc. (WDS), a private company that specializes in wildfire mitigation and loss prevention services.
Another layer of protection against wildfires
Wildfires have become a year-round peril in areas that are prone to them. These fires may begin unnoticed but can spread quickly, posing a danger to lives and property. To help our policyholders protect their properties from the threat of wildfires, Travelers has partnered with Wildfire Defense Systems, Inc.
It is an important part of Travelers’ wildfire strategy to help you protect what matters and offer specialized services to you at no additional cost. These services are another layer of protection for your property from the threat of wildfires.
How it works
During a wildfire, WDS supplements local emergency response services and may take preventative measures on or around your property. For example, WDS may remove brush and sources of fuel, or apply vent tape, fire-blocking gel and fire retardant.
It’s important to note that WDS is not a first responder. There is no guarantee WDS will provide all wildfire mitigation services to all properties threatened by a wildfire. WDS provides service to as many properties as it can, based on company guidelines that consider safety, weather conditions and the fire’s proximity.
If you live in an area that is prone to wildfires, you can take steps to help reduce your risks. Make sure you have the appropriate insurance coverage to suit your needs.
Frequently asked questions
WDS background
WDS specializes in wildfire education, loss prevention, and wildfire response services across North America. It has held contracts with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to provide wildfire suppression services for the USFS. It also contracts with insurance companies to provide wildfire loss prevention services for their customers.
WDS will determine if and when to access an insurance customer’s property to provide fire mitigation services when a customer’s property is in imminent threat of a loss by wildfire.
Many elements including safety, weather conditions and proximity to the fire are factored into WDS’s decision to provide these services.
WDS’s goal is to provide an additional layer of prevention and mitigation services to local, provincial and federal emergency responders.
Visit their website at wildfire-defense.com.
WDS activity
WDS will attempt to access all properties in an area imminently threatened by a wildfire. Based on the severity of the event, there is no guarantee that WDS will be able to provide services to all properties and structures in a particular area.
Personal Insurance customers can call 1.800.661.5522 for 24/7 emergency claims service. Types of operations within commercial structures may limit the ability of WDS to engage in service activities. For example, WDS cannot engage in service activities in those commercial structures that contain explosives, chemicals, hazardous materials, biohazard or similar hazards such as those that might be located near or in areas in which hospitals, manufacturing or government facilities including correction facilities are located.
WDS’s response complies with provincial agencies. These agencies control access to areas threatened by wildfire.
In the event of a wildfire, WDS maps and monitors the fire in relation to insurance carriers’ customer locations. It uses the largest private wildfire fleet in the country, as well as proprietary wildfire forecasting and predictive analytics systems to identify properties that could potentially be affected by the wildfire event.
WDS response teams monitor properties before, during and after active wildfire events. This allows WDS to take necessary loss prevention actions. This may include brush removal, fuel source mitigation, application of vent tape, fire blocking gel and/or fire retardant and/or closing of structure openings.
In addition to loss prevention and mitigation services, WDS may also remove combustibles such as outdoor furniture, firewood, pine needles, dead leaves and/or similar items that are within 1.5m (five feet) of the property. WDS may also provide fuel source mitigation, application of vent tape, fire blocking gel and/or fire retardant, and/or closing of structure openings. WDS may also check gutters to remove combustible items like pine needles and dead leaves.
WDS will not be able to service any property that is inaccessible because of a locked gate or any other barrier.
None of the components in the fire retardant that WDS uses contain toxic materials.
Vegetative retardant is similar to fertilizer products and when applied, about 85% of the fire retardant solution is water.
WDS will not apply fire retardant within 91m (300 feet) of any natural water source.
Yes. Once there is no further threat of wildfire, WDS will typically return to the properties they serviced to perform clean up of fire blocking gel from structures. Based on weather conditions, there is no guarantee that WDS will be able to provide clean up services to all impacted properties, but they will service as many properties as they can per their protocol.
No. The service provides WDS loss prevention services that may include brush removal, fuel source mitigation, application of vent tape, fire blocking gel and/or fire retardant and/or closing of structure openings. Pre-inspection services are not included. Visit Travelers Prepare & Prevent website for tips to prepare for a wildfire.
WDS provides trained and certified fire personnel that meet provincial standards. These services are supplemental to all other public first responders and are not first responder services.
Yes. WDS works with municipal and provincial fire response teams to coordinate response efforts for a wildfire incident. WDS services do not replace municipal and provincial emergency response services.
Customer impact
In the event of a wildfire, it is not necessary to contact WDS.
Your safety is our priority during a wildfire. To protect yourself and your family, you should always follow evacuation orders. When you are safe, if you need to report a claim, call 1.800.661.5522 for 24/7 emergency claims service.
You should always follow evacuation orders, and only take preventative actions if it is deemed safe to do so.
If it is safe, you may want to consider removing outdoor furniture, firewood, pine needles, dead leaves and/or similar items that are within 1.5m (five feet) of your property. You can also check the gutters to ensure they are cleared of combustible items like pine needles and dead leaves. If there is a sprinkler system, watering the property within 9m (30 feet) of your property may also be helpful.
You can obtain additional advice at Travelers Prepare & Prevent.
If damage to an insured structure such as your home occurs from WDS’s wildfire defence mitigation, Travelers will cover the cost of repairs or replacement. There will be no impact to your premium, and a deductible will not apply.
No. There will be no underwriting or eligibility impact to the policy if damages to an insured structure occur as a result of wildfire mitigation services.
When you are safe, if you need to report a claim, you can call 1.800.661.5522 for 24/7 emergency claims service.
Travelers has hundreds of specially trained catastrophe response experts who are prepared to respond to a disaster site in 24 hours or less. We're ready to help, wherever and whenever a catastrophe strikes.
Our Enterprise Response strategy enables us to assign additional claim professionals and support staff from our other offices across the country.
In addition to notifying Travelers WDS will typically provide a door hanger or other material notifying the property owner that their property has been serviced.
This service is available for all eligible dwelling properties. These properties must be completely owned and controlled by the person(s) named on the insurance policy, be accessible by established roads, ferries, or bridges and located in Alberta below the 57th parallel, or British Columbia below the 56th parallel.
Our formal notification letter authorizes WDS to access the policyholder’s property.
If a policy is cancelled or non-renews, the service will not apply as of the policy cancellation or non-renewal effective date.
Yes. For eligible properties, this service will continue to apply on subsequent renewals, unless we advise otherwise. Please note that a policy must continue to meet applicable eligibility requirements to qualify for renewal and the customer must not have opted out of the service.
No. You may opt out of the Wildfire Defence Services prevention services at any time. If you’re a Travelers Personal Insurance customer, call us at 1.800.268.4543.
Yes. A customer can opt back in at any time by calling Travelers at 1.800.268.4543.
If you have previously chosen to opt out of the program and choose to opt in at the time of a wildfire, please note that there is a possibility that your home will not be serviced as the opt in requests can take up to 5-7 business days for processing.
Yes. If wildfire causes loss or damage to their home, even though they opted out of the WDS service, we will still cover the loss subject to the limitations and exclusions of the policy.
No. There is no fee to our customers for this service.
*All statements herein and the performance of wildfire damage mitigation, including structural protective services does not modify or change the provisions, conditions, definitions, limitations, special limitations and exclusions or special exclusions of your insurance policy. These properties must be completely owned and controlled by the person(s) named on the insurance policy, be accessible by established roads, ferries, or bridges and located in Alberta below the 57th parallel, or British Columbia below the 56th parallel.
Terms and conditions apply. All information contained within this document is current as of November 15, 2024.