Burning question: California’s fire risk is so high its firefighters can’t insure their stations

California’s firefighters have already put out more than 290 wildfires in 2024, but some are facing difficulties in insuring their home bases amid the state’s risky fire profile.

Those problems came to the forefront Thursday when Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA) administration defended an $11 million request from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to replace a kitchen at Ishi Conservation Camp in Northern California.

That camp, which houses and trains firefighters, could not be insured properly by Cal Fire. That resulted in the high-dollar request because, normally, bonds based on the value of the property cover maintenance, but a lack of quality insurance prevented that, according to Finance Department Analyst Victor Lopez.

“The insurance industry, they weren’t interested in selling insurance policies in the region due to the perceived fire risk in the area,” Lopez said.

California lawmakers couldn’t believe it.

“We can’t get fire insurance at a fire station that’s going to be manned by firefighters,” state Sen. Brian Dahle, a Republican from Northern California’s Lassen County, said. “That’s where we are in California. That, to me, is crazy.”

State Sen. Josh Becker, a Democrat who is also from Northern California, capitalized on the moment to point out a bill he introduced that would give homeowners credit for installing fire-resistant roofs and building fire breaks.

Insurance companies have opposed bills like that in the past as they claim it would force them to take on excessive risk.

The California Department of General Services has identified up to 16 other facilities, 11 related to Cal Fire, in which they might face the same insurance problems, according to spokeswoman Monica Hassan in an email obtained by Politico.

The challenge isn’t unique to firefighters. Many Californians can’t obtain fire insurance or can’t afford it because of the same reasons. Newsom attempted to address the problem with an executive order in September, aiming to broaden insurance options while keeping them affordable.

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“This is yet another example of how climate change is directly threatening our communities and livelihoods,” Newsom said at the time. “It is critical that California’s insurance market works to protect homes and businesses in every corner of our state. A balanced approach that will help maintain fair prices and protections for Californians is essential.”

But the state could face an enormous budget deficit of up to $73 billion. That might force California to prioritize immediate dilemmas and leave firefighters on the back burner.