Wildfire Insurance in Washington State: New Claim Deadlines, ALE Limits and Nonrenewals
30 calendar days. Starting October 18, 2026, a Washington insurer has to tell you whether your property claim is accepted or denied within 30 calendar days of when you notified it of the claim, or send you a written explanation of why it needs more time, then another one every 30 days. Under the rule in place through October 17, that clock didn't start until the insurer had a fully completed proof of loss.
The timing matters. On August 1, three fires broke out around Spokane, and the county assessor has since said they destroyed 833 homes. Wildfire claims from this summer are now in the slow middle part, where the questions are about replacement estimates, debris, and how long living-expense money lasts. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) holds its third Spokane claims workshop on this tonight, Monday, October 12.
The claim rules that change Oct. 18
The OIC amended 15 sections of Washington's unfair claims settlement rules in WSR 26-17-089, filed August 18, 2026. Three of them set the clocks on a property claim: WAC 284-30-360 (acknowledging a claim), WAC 284-30-370 (investigating it) and WAC 284-30-380 (accepting or denying it). The changes take effect October 18. Until then, the old text applies.
| Step | Through Oct. 17, 2026 | From Oct. 18, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledge your claim | 10 working days | 10 business days |
| Answer an OIC inquiry about your claim | 15 working days | 10 business days |
| Finish the investigation | 30 days, unless it can't reasonably be done | 30 calendar days; if not done, written reasons, then an update every 30 days |
| Accept or deny | 15 working days after a fully completed proof of loss | 30 calendar days after you notify the insurer of the claim |
| If the insurer needs more time | Notice within 15 working days; next within 45 days; then every 30 days | Notice with all reasons within 30 calendar days; then every 30 calendar days |
| Pricing data behind an estimate | No specific rule | On your request: when and where the data was collected, and which businesses supplied it |
Source: WAC 284-30-360, WAC 284-30-370, WAC 284-30-380 (WSR 26-17-089, effective Oct. 18, 2026), as published on app.leg.wa.gov.
Three changes stand out for a fire claim.
The clock starts at notice. Under the old rule, the 15-day accept-or-deny deadline ran from a fully completed proof of loss. After a total loss, putting a complete proof together can take a long time, and the clock sat still while it did. The new rule runs from the day you notify the insurer. A denial has to be in writing and point to the specific policy provision it relies on.
The status updates have content. When an investigation runs past 30 days, the insurer has to explain why in writing and update you every 30 days. The update has to summarize the amount of loss so far, any service providers it has hired or consulted, each item it's still waiting for, and, if a new adjuster took over, confirm that person has reviewed the file. If you've had three adjusters in two months, that last part is for you.
You can ask where the prices came from. Under the new subsection (8) of WAC 284-30-380, if the insurer used a database, survey, software or benchmark for material prices or labor rates, it has to tell you, on request, the date the data was collected, where it was collected, and which businesses supplied the cost data. Subsection (7), which makes insurers responsible for the accuracy of evaluations done on their behalf, now covers all amounts owed, not just actual cash value. If your contractor's number and the insurer's are far apart, this is the first question I'd put in writing.
One thing I couldn't settle from the rule text: how it treats claims that were already open on October 18. If yours was filed in August, ask your adjuster in writing which timelines they're applying, or ask the OIC.
The Spokane fires and tonight's workshop
The three fires (Old Trails near Airway Heights, Autumn Lane near Nine Mile Falls, and Fairview near Mead) started the afternoon of August 1 under a Red Flag warning, according to KHQ's running summary of official briefings. The same day, Governor Ferguson declared a statewide wildfire emergency (Proclamation 26-03); by then the state had seen more than 1,000 fires and about 425,000 acres burned, the most since 2021 per DNR.
| Fire | Acres | Contained |
|---|---|---|
| Old Trails (north of Airway Heights) | 3,176 | 83% |
| Autumn Lane (Nine Mile Falls) | 5,764 | 89% |
| Fairview (near Mead) | 992 | 97% |
Source: KHQ, relaying DNR and incident management team figures, 8:47 a.m. Aug. 13, 2026. News report, not a final official count.
Counts of what burned differ by source, date and definition, so I'll stick to one source per number. Spokane County Assessor Tom Konis told the Spokesman-Review on August 21 that the fires destroyed 833 homes, and called "more than $1 billion" in damage his working estimate. For comparison, he put the August 2023 Gray and Oregon Road fires, the previous record, at 366 homes and $166 million in assessed damage.
Source: Spokane County Assessor Tom Konis via the Spokesman-Review, Aug. 21, 2026. Counts from other agencies use different definitions.
Show the numbers
| Homes destroyed | |
|---|---|
| Gray + Oregon Road, Aug. 2023 | 366 |
| Spokane Complex, Aug. 2026 | 833 |
The governor's office reported on September 28 that a preliminary damage assessment across Benton, Okanogan, Spokane and Stevens counties found 649 primary residences destroyed and 2,542 homes damaged from this summer's fires. That same day the governor asked for a federal Major Disaster Declaration; as of today I haven't found an approval. Separately, Proclamation 26-03.1 made everyone who lost a home in the listed counties eligible for State Individual Assistance regardless of income or insurance.
The OIC has held claims workshops in Spokane since Monday, August 17; since September they've run on the second Monday of each month. Tonight's runs 6 to 8:30 p.m. (doors at 5:30) at Spokane Falls Community College, Building 24, Auditorium Room 110, 3410 W Whistalks Way. The topics are the ones that come up a couple of months after a fire: debris removal, replacement estimates, and one-on-one help with individual claims. The presentations are recorded for online viewing; look for them through the OIC's workshops page if you can't make it.
What a Washington home policy pays for wildfire
Fire is a covered peril. The OIC says every standard homeowners or property policy in Washington includes fire coverage on terms at least as good as the state's model fire policy (WAC 284-20-010), and most also cover heat, smoke, soot and fumes. A wildfire is treated like any other fire. What the policy pays depends on its parts, and each part has its own limit:
| Coverage | What it pays for after a wildfire | Limit to check |
|---|---|---|
| A: Dwelling | Repairing or rebuilding the house; debris removal is part of this | Dwelling limit vs. today's rebuild cost |
| B: Other structures | Detached garage, shed, fence | Often 10% of Coverage A unless increased |
| C: Personal property | Furniture, clothing, tools, electronics | Sub-limits on jewelry, cash, firearms; replacement cost vs. actual cash value |
| D: Loss of use (ALE) | Extra cost of living elsewhere while the home is repaired, or during an evacuation order if the policy says so | Dollar cap, time cap, or both |
| Debris removal (additional coverage) | Extra money for debris once Coverage A is used up | Usually up to 5% more of the dwelling limit |
Source: WA OIC, Wildfires and insurance; WA OIC, Additional living expenses coverage; WA OIC, Debris removal insurance coverage.
Example, with round numbers: say your dwelling limit is $400,000. A 10% Coverage B gives you $40,000 for the garage, shop and fences combined. If rebuilding plus debris costs more than the $400,000 dwelling limit, a 5% debris add-on would give up to $20,000 more for debris. Your own declarations page has the real figures.
A few things the OIC flags. Contents settle at replacement cost or actual cash value, and with depreciation taken out the gap can be large. Jewelry, cash and firearms have low sub-limits unless they're scheduled. Ash, asbestos and fuel-soaked soil that need testing and removal are covered when they come from a covered loss; look under "Section I Additional Coverages" in your policy. And in some higher-risk areas, the OIC says, policies carry a separate, higher deductible for wildfire. Check the declarations page.
The big gap I see is the dwelling limit itself. The OIC says one of the biggest issues people have is learning after a loss that their coverage maximum isn't enough. If the house was insured for what it cost to build years ago, the limit runs out before the rebuild does. Ask at every renewal how the dwelling limit was calculated.
Living expenses: the money that runs out
Additional living expense coverage (ALE, or loss of use) pays the extra cost of living somewhere else: temporary housing, the extra cost of meals, storage, moving, laundry, pet boarding, extra driving. It doesn't pay your normal mortgage or rent, normal utilities at the damaged home, or luxury lodging. It usually kicks in when the adjuster finds the home uninhabitable, and a government evacuation order can trigger it too, depending on the policy.
The OIC's own warning is blunt: after recent wildfires, many people found their ALE ran out before they could go home, and once it's exhausted, insurers generally don't extend it. I found no Washington statute or rule that requires an extension.
Source: WA OIC, Additional living expenses coverage. Caps vary by policy; some policies have both a dollar and a time limit.
Run your own numbers. Example: a $400,000 dwelling limit with a 20% ALE cap is $80,000. If renting nearby plus the extra costs run $4,000 a month, that money lasts 20 months. If the policy also has a 12-month time limit, the time limit ends it first. After a fire that burned hundreds of homes in one county, I wouldn't assume the rebuild fits inside either cap. Check which limit you'll hit first and budget for the months after.
Two OIC tips that help: you can ask your insurer, in writing, for an ALE advance with a specific itemized amount. In a total loss you can also ask for a personal property (Coverage C) advance, which comes from your contents limit and doesn't reduce the ALE pool. The OIC has letter templates for both on its ALE page.
The first months of a wildfire claim
This list follows the OIC's steps after home damage or loss and its wildfire recovery toolkit, with the new rule dates added.
- Write down when you reported the claim. From October 18 that date starts the 30-day accept-or-deny clock and the 30-day investigation clock. Keep a claims journal: every call, who you spoke with, what they said.
- Expect an inspection within about 30 days. The OIC says the insurer should inspect within 30 days of the claim being filed. Sending an adjuster in person isn't a legal requirement; photos or a virtual inspection may be used.
- Build the contents inventory room by room. Photos, videos, bank and card statements, online order histories. I found no Washington rule that waives the itemized inventory after a declared disaster, so assume you'll need one, and ask your adjuster what format they accept.
- Ask for advances in writing. ALE and, after a total loss, a contents advance, each with a specific amount.
- Pick your own contractor. The OIC says you can, and that the insurer isn't responsible for contractor delays or material shortages.
- Read anything a contractor asks you to sign. An assignment-of-benefits form can hand decisions about your claim to the contractor. The OIC's 2027 legislative priorities include banning post-loss assignment of benefits, citing misuse after disasters in other states. That's a proposal, not law.
- If the estimates don't match, ask where the prices came from. From October 18 you can request the date, source and suppliers behind the insurer's pricing and labor data.
- Watch for time limits. If you don't have a lawyer, the insurer has to warn you in writing 30 days before a policy time limit may expire (WAC 284-30-380(5)). Find the deadlines in your policy anyway.
Cancellation, nonrenewal and Emergency Order 26-01
Under RCW 48.18.2901, a Washington insurer that won't renew your homeowners policy has to deliver or mail written notice at least 60 days before it expires, and state its actual reason. Cancelling a policy mid-term takes 60 days' written notice with the actual reason under RCW 48.18.290, except 10 days for nonpayment of premium. Your mortgage lender gets notice too. For a private passenger auto policy the number is 20 days for both cancellation (RCW 48.18.291; 10 days for nonpayment or in the first 30 days of a new policy) and nonrenewal (RCW 48.18.292).
After the August fires, Commissioner Patty Kuderer issued Emergency Order 26-01 on August 3. It covered property and auto insurers in the ZIP codes where wildfires burned structures or evacuation orders were issued, plus adjacent ZIP codes, and it ran from August 3 through September 30, 2026:
| Rule | Normal law | Order 26-01, Aug. 3 to Sept. 30, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Property nonrenewal notice | 60 days | 120 days |
| Property cancellation notice | 60 days (10 for nonpayment) | 120 days; no cancellation for nonpayment unless you asked |
| Auto nonrenewal notice | 20 days | 60 days |
| Auto cancellation notice | 20 days (10 for nonpayment or in the first 30 days of a new policy) | 60 days; no cancellation for nonpayment unless you asked |
| Grace period for unpaid premium | Per the policy | At least 45 days; late and reinstatement fees waived |
Source: WA OIC Emergency Order 26-01 (WSR 26-16-059); RCW 48.18.2901; RCW 48.18.290; RCW 48.18.291; RCW 48.18.292. The order applied only in listed ZIP codes and those next to them.
The commissioner can extend an order like this by up to 30 days at a time while the governor's emergency stays in effect (RCW 48.02.060(5)). When I checked the OIC's emergency orders page on October 12, it listed 26-01 with its September 30 end date and no extension. Check that page yourself before you rely on it either way.
The bigger trend predates this summer. In a February 2026 open letter, the OIC said the number of Washington homeowners nonrenewed or canceled has doubled since 2021, from 11,763 to 24,106. That count covers every reason a policy ends, not only wildfire, and the OIC didn't name the year of the second figure. In the OIC's words, "Some of these include cancellations due to a wildfire risk score."
Source: WA OIC open letter, Feb. 6, 2026
Show the numbers
| Policies | |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,763 |
| Latest reported | 24,106 |
Those wildfire risk scores come from third-party models that look at building materials, vegetation, location and defensible space, and insurers use them for eligibility, pricing and renewals. If a nonrenewal notice cites wildfire risk, ask what score was used and what would change it. The insurer has to give the actual reason; I found no current law that makes it hand you the score.
What you can control is the house: needles off the roof and gutters, a 5-foot gravel or concrete strip instead of wood mulch, metal mesh on vents, a Class A roof, firewood 30 feet away. The OIC also describes the IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home designations now available in Washington ($125 application, valid three years). I found no Washington law that requires a discount or a renewal because of mitigation, so treat it as risk reduction first.
What the 2026 legislature didn't pass
Two bills that would have changed this died in 2026. Both passed the Senate and stalled in a House committee:
- SB 5928 (wildfire risk-score transparency) would have required insurers that use a wildfire risk score to disclose it, explain the factors, give plain-language steps to improve it, and allow appeals after new mitigation or for demonstrable errors. It passed the Senate 48-1.
- SB 6079 (Strengthen Washington Homes) would have set up a grant pilot to help at-risk homeowners pay for IBHS-based improvements, funded from OIC regulatory accounts, and would have protected homeowners who meet the standard from wildfire-risk nonrenewal or cancellation. It passed the Senate 37-11.
Both are on the OIC's 2027 legislative priorities, along with the assignment-of-benefits ban. None of it is law today. The background is the Wildfire Mitigation and Resiliency Standards Work Group report the OIC and DNR sent the Legislature in December 2025.
If nobody will write your house
A nonrenewal isn't the end of coverage. The OIC says you can shop with any licensed agent or company. If you can't find home coverage in the regular market, the OIC points to the Washington state Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan at 425-745-9808. It's a residual market: an association of last resort for property the regular market won't take. Ask what it covers before you assume it matches your old policy. For auto, the residual market is the Washington Automobile Insurance Plan, 800-227-4659.
For what a standard Washington homeowners policy includes, see our Washington home insurance page.
How much burns in a normal year
Wildfire isn't a once-a-decade event here. The OIC says hundreds of thousands of acres burn in Washington each year, and most wildfires are started by people. On land DNR protects alone, the 10-year average for January through September is about 121,669 acres:
Source: WA DNR, 2025 Annual Wildfire Suppression Report, Table 8 (FIReS data as of Oct. 3, 2025)
Show the numbers
| Acres | |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 16,420 |
| 2017 | 21,179 |
| 2018 | 107,318 |
| 2019 | 65,426 |
| 2020 | 279,682 |
| 2021 | 294,459 |
| 2022 | 58,590 |
| 2023 | 109,055 |
| 2024 | 188,665 |
| 2025 | 75,897 |
2020 and 2021 were the big years on DNR land; 2025 was quieter at 75,897 acres. For 2026, the governor's office, citing DNR, put the statewide total at about 425,000 acres by August 1, and the season wasn't over.
For the other big disaster risk a standard home policy leaves out, see our post on earthquake insurance in Washington.
Your car: only comprehensive pays
Wildfire damage to a vehicle is a comprehensive claim. Liability-only coverage pays nothing for your own car, and collision doesn't apply. The OIC says comprehensive covers heat, smoke and ash damage, and damage caused by emergency responders, and it still applies if you left the car behind during a mandatory evacuation. What the state does and doesn't require is in Washington State car insurance requirements. More on Washington auto coverage on our Washington auto insurance page.
When to call the OIC
Call the OIC's Consumer Advocacy line, 800-562-6900 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday), or file a complaint online when:
- you haven't had a written status update in 30 days and your claim is still open after October 18;
- a denial doesn't cite a policy provision;
- you asked for the source of the pricing data and didn't get it;
- a nonrenewal or cancellation notice arrived late or with no reason.
The OIC can ask the insurer to respond, and from October 18 the insurer has 10 business days to answer the OIC. Keep copies of everything you send. The wildfire recovery toolkit has the forms and letters, and our Washington insurance FAQ covers common questions.
FAQ
Does homeowners insurance cover wildfire damage in Washington state?
Yes. The OIC says every standard homeowners policy in Washington includes fire coverage, and most also cover heat, smoke and soot damage. Some higher-risk areas have a separate wildfire deductible.
How long does an insurer have to accept or deny a wildfire claim in Washington?
Starting October 18, 2026, the insurer must accept or deny a first-party claim within 30 calendar days after you notify it of the claim, or explain in writing why it needs more time and update you every 30 days.
Can my insurer drop me because of wildfire risk in Washington?
An insurer can decline to renew, but it must send written notice at least 60 days before the policy expires and state the actual reason (RCW 48.18.2901).
What happens when additional living expense coverage runs out?
ALE is capped by dollars, time or both, often 20% to 30% of dwelling coverage or 12 to 24 months. The OIC says insurers generally don't extend it once it's exhausted, so ask early for an ALE advance in writing.
Does car insurance cover wildfire damage?
Only if you carry comprehensive coverage. Liability and collision don't pay for wildfire damage to your own car.
Your own policy wording and Washington law control. Confirm your situation with a licensed agent, the Washington OIC (800-562-6900), or, for legal questions, an attorney.
Sources
- WSR 26-17-089: amendments to chapter 284-30 WAC (filed Aug. 18, 2026)
- WAC 284-30-360: Standards for the insurer to acknowledge pertinent communications
- WAC 284-30-370: Standards for prompt investigation of claims
- WAC 284-30-380: Settlement standards applicable to all insurers
- RCW 48.18.290: Cancellation by insurer
- RCW 48.18.2901: Renewal of policy, notice
- RCW 48.18.291: Cancellation of automobile insurance, notice
- RCW 48.18.292: Renewal of automobile insurance
- WA OIC: Emergency Order 26-01 (WSR 26-16-059), Aug. 3, 2026
- WA OIC news release: Emergency order for people affected by Washington wildfires (Aug. 3, 2026)
- WA OIC: Technical assistance advisories and emergency orders
- WA OIC news release: Oct. 12 wildfire claims workshop (Oct. 6, 2026)
- WA OIC news release: Monthly insurance claims workshops for Spokane wildfire survivors (Aug. 12, 2026)
- WA OIC: Wildfire claims workshops
- WA OIC news release: Insurers and OIC staff at the Spokane Disaster Assistance Center (Aug. 5, 2026)
- WA OIC: Wildfire recovery toolkit
- WA OIC: Steps to take after home damage or loss
- WA OIC: Wildfires and insurance
- WA OIC: Additional living expenses coverage
- WA OIC: Debris removal insurance coverage
- WA OIC: Wildfire risk score transparency
- WA OIC: IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home designations
- WA OIC: Strengthen Washington Homes grant program
- WA OIC: Washington consumers most at risk from wildfires deserve our help (Feb. 6, 2026)
- WA OIC: 2027 legislative priorities
- WA OIC consumer alert: Wildfire season is here (June 17, 2026)
- WA OIC and DNR: Wildfire Mitigation and Resiliency Standards Work Group report (Dec. 2025)
- Office of the Governor: Statewide wildfire emergency and burn ban (Aug. 1, 2026)
- Office of the Governor: Emergency proclamation 26-03.1 (Aug. 10, 2026)
- Office of the Governor: Request for federal Major Disaster Declaration (Sept. 28, 2026)
- WA DNR: 2025 Annual Wildfire Suppression Report (PDF)
- KHQ: Spokane-area fires at a glance
- Spokesman-Review: Spokane fire damages will exceed $1 billion (Aug. 21, 2026)
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not legal, tax or insurance advice. Coverage depends on the actual policy, its terms, conditions and exclusions, and state law. Maru Insurance · WA License (WAOIC) #1365574 · FL License #G363233 · NPN 22261820.