Saskatchewan residents affected by recent wildfires are now facing a growing number of insurance-related challenges, with 100s of property owners navigating complex claims processes.
In Denare Beach, Linda Lowe is managing multiple claims after a wildfire destroyed her home of 31 years. With time off from her job in the school division, she is now focused on coordinating with four insurance providers, namely SGI, TD Insurance and two third-party companies contracted by TD.
“I’m fortunate, I cannot imagine going back to work full time and having to deal with all the juggling that’s going to take place with the insurance. I’m fortunate that I have this summer off that I’ll just be sitting at my computer constantly,” Lowe said , according to CKOM.
SGI Canada reported it has received more than 1,300 wildfire-related claims to date, including around 750 for homes and property and more than 560 for vehicles, the media outlet said.
While the overall cost of this year’s wildfire season remains under assessment, the broader insurance industry is still responding to the record losses of 2023, the report added. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, it saw 228,000 claims filed and more than $8 billion in insured losses tied to catastrophic weather events. These figures continue to influence insurance pricing and availability, particularly in higher-risk areas, the news outlet reported.
Emily Proulx, branch manager at Hub Insurance in Prince Albert, said property owners in wildfire-prone regions such as Denare Beach may see adjustments in coverage terms or premium levels.
She pointed to a period during the Shoe Fire near Candle Lake when insurers were hesitant to underwrite homes even in communities more than 50 kilometres away.
“We were trying to put insurance on those properties, and we were getting flat out ‘nos’ from the insurance companies. When you look at the map, they will use a pin drop, a radius depending on who the insurance company is, it might be 50 kilometres, it might be 75 kilometres,” Proulx said.
She added that one insurer described the fire as a “threat”, without referencing distance, even when properties were located in urban areas with access to hydrants and fire services.
Proulx said some of those decisions were later reversed after insurers reviewed the properties on a case-by-case basis.
She recommended that policyholders review their coverage regularly to ensure limits and contents reflect current needs.
“Am I insured for enough? I think people are surprised by what we accumulate in content,” she said, noting that items in garages and workshops are often overlooked in coverage estimates.
