For years, we’ve known that California is a kindling box, waiting for the next spark to ignite another catastrophic fire.

Whether it’s downed power lines, dry lightning, deliberate arson, or a flat tire, which lead to the destruction of a family’s property, the threat of large-scale wildfires isn’t just a problem for those living in remote mountain towns — it’s a crisis affecting all Californians. And now, that crisis is hitting closer to home in a new way: your wallet.

Last week, the California FAIR Plan, the state’s insurer of last resort, requested a staggering $1 billion assessment. The reason? The FAIR Plan has exhausted its cash reserves covering billions in claims from just two fires — the Palisades and Eaton fires. But this isn’t just a financial burden for insurance companies. It’s a cost that will trickle down to every homeowner in California.

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What Does This Mean for You?

If you own a home in California, you’re about to see higher costs. How much? That remains uncertain. But here’s what we do know: When the FAIR Plan issues an assessment, a portion of that cost gets passed down to all homeowners’ insurance policyholders. That means every Californian with a home insurance policy will see higher premiums — not just those living in fire-prone areas. And if another major fire strikes this year, we’ll likely see yet another assessment.

This wasn’t always the case. In the past, assessments like this were rare. But with wildfires growing more frequent and more destructive, we can no longer consider them anomalies. They’re becoming the new normal, and Californians are being left to foot the bill.

The Cost of Inaction

Let’s put this in perspective: Californians already face record-high mortgages and rents. Gas prices remain among the nation’s highest, and everyday grocery store expenses are taking a bigger bite out of paychecks. The last thing we need is another rising cost, yet that’s exactly what we’re getting.

It’s clear we can’t afford to keep reacting to wildfires after they happen. The financial burden on homeowners, insurers, and the state itself is unsustainable. We must shift our focus from fighting fires to preventing them.

The Solution: Prevention, not Reaction

The reality is, we know fires will happen. The conditions that make California so fire-prone — droughts, high temperatures — aren’t changing anytime soon. What can change is how we prepare.

If we want to avoid more assessments, skyrocketing insurance premiums, non-renewals, and the destruction of our communities, we need to invest in fire prevention. That means:

• Vegetation management – Clearing out overgrown brush and dry vegetation reduces the fuel that feeds these fires.
• Responsible forest management – Returning our forests to healthier, less dense levels helps prevent massive, uncontrollable fires.
• Home hardening initiatives – Cutting the red tape that prevents homeowners from fire-proofing their homes is a must. Measures like permissible defensible space can make a critical difference in whether a home survives a fire.

These aren’t just common-sense measures. They’re life-saving strategies. And they don’t just stabilize the insurance market, they also help protect Californians from losing everything in the next inevitable wildfire.

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The Time to Act Is Now

For years, we saw the warning signs. We saw the smoke. We knew the risks. But instead of taking meaningful action, we kept waiting for the next fire, hoping it wouldn’t be as bad as the last. Now, the cost of our inaction is catching up with us.

We no longer have the luxury of waiting. We must take action now before another billion-dollar disaster burns through our forests — and our wallets. Because if we don’t, we won’t just be paying more for insurance. We’ll be paying the price in lives lost, homes destroyed, and communities forever changed.

About the Author

David Tangipa (R-Clovis) represents the 8th District in the California Assembly, which includes Calaveras, Fresno, Inyo, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, and Tuolumne counties.

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