Millions Of Homes Are At Risk Of Wildfires, But It's Rarely Disclosed

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Many homeowners who've lost everything in a wildfire had no idea they were at risk. And only two Western states require that wildfire risk be disclosed to someone buying a home, an NPR investigation finds.

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, which helps homeowners understand fire risk and make their homes more fire-resistant. Most homes aren't destroyed by wildfires burning directly up to their walls. Instead, they're ignited by embers that are blown far ahead of the fire.

A real estate sign is seen in front of a burning home during the Carr Fire in Redding, Calif., in 2018. More than 1,600 buildings reportedly were destroyed.Enlisting real estate agents "I think it's adding a service," says Mike Budd, a Vail real estate agent who helped develop the program."We want to be sure that we've helped our clients in every conceivable fashion."from a statewide task force were rejected. That included disclosing wildfire risk in real estate transactions, potentially before a prospective buyer has even made an offer on a property.

Today, the REALFire program inspects about 80 homes per year, a small fraction of the houses in Eagle County. To reduce wildfire risk truly in the community, almost every home would need to participate. Even one home with flammable brush puts others at risk, because fires spread from structure to structure.

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People in the west do think about these things. Constantly. But country runs deep in the west, we all love outside in the woods.

✍🏻 Build✍🏻house✍🏻out✍🏻 of✍🏻mugs

At least it warrants an in depth look and review. I'll wait for Australia as they do a far superior job than any American media outlet. Your refusal to cover this only promotes the story and is a direct reason so many vote Trump. You're too deluded to see truth & reality

NPR you are a sham to journalists protecting Biden but covering any fake news against Trump :)) NPR is so far left Pelosi loves you

It’s just common sense, due diligence to research potential residence neighborhood before buying or renting: flood zones - worst storms, water marks, wildfires, crazy neighbors, illegal activity traffic. Do your own drive bys at off hours, read HOA mtg notes, visit local market

Shocker that's not a selling point 🤣

poplifegirl

creating 'defensible space”

This picture...humbling

zeenius

I live in Zone 216 in Colorado. I’ve taken down $16K in trees on 2 acres. Mitigation is EXPENSIVE. A 1979 wildfire burned my property and if the prev owners understood forestry, things would be better/safer/less $$. Ppl think Mtn living is carefree. It’s not.

Could you imagine not knowing that there are wildfires in the western states?

This should be in the interest of Insurance Companies to map fire zones and inform buyers of homes likely impacted.

Breaking News: ➡️Cheater got a cheat!

Whatever happened to personal responsibility? When did we turn over our self determination, with all of the risks, to a governmental authority? Has it always been this way and I didn’t realize it until 2020?

Yeah I can’t sympathize with that.. if you live in a literal forest then you know you’re at risk 🤦‍♀️

This isn’t rocket science. If your home is in a dry climate and is surrounded by trees or brush, it’s at risk. But yeah, let’s place the blame for ignorance or stupidity on someone else. It’s the American way. 🙄

I call Bullshit on this! If you live out in the wilds anywhere, there is a chance of fires! naturewinseverytime

YOU LIVE IN A FOREST!!!

Your house is surrounded by a forest in California. You are at risk.

Then why did my homeowner's insurance charge me such high premiums for having a house in a high fire risk area in CA way back in 2002?🤔

at no risk for fire surrounded by trees? sure

Isn’t the lender required to do this?

wow

If you live in California, you know the state is managed so incredibly poorly by the governor that you are at risk of everything bad that could possibly happen to you.

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