Fire Safe Council to host homeowners insurance workshop Oct. 11

Ramona’s West End Fire Safe Council is set to host a homeowners insurance workshop on Wednesday, October 11, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The workshop, led by Amber Ramirez from Farmers Insurance, will be held at the Ramona Community Center, located at 434 Aqua Lane. This informative session will delve into various aspects of the fire insurance industry, including recent changes, new requirements, and standards for insured homes.

With deep roots in Ramona since 1973, Amber Ramirez has been serving as an agent at Farmers Insurance on Main Street for two decades. During this time, she has been collaborating with the Fire Safe Council to conduct workshops that keep residents informed about developments in the insurance market.

Ramirez underscores the significance of homeowners insurance, drawing attention to the 2007 fire that resulted in total losses for eight homes insured through her agency. Given the considerable time elapsed since the last major fire in Ramona and the evolving insurance landscape, Ramirez has joined forces with the Fire Safe Council to organize the workshop on October 11.

The workshop will also provide insights into where individuals can explore homeowners insurance options in California and strategies for reducing insurance costs. Ramirez reveals that she receives numerous daily inquiries from Ramona residents facing non-renewal notices or seeking to acquire new insurance.

For homes with overhanging trees, non-renewal notices may be issued until the trees are properly trimmed. However, even with appropriate trimming, some homeowners may still face non-renewal.

Ramirez explains that insurance assessors often rely on outdated Google Earth images when inspecting properties, which can lead to issues. To rectify this, homeowners simply need to submit recent photos and collaborate with their insurance agents.

Another issue highlighted by Ramirez is the scrutiny of vegetation near homes, including vines climbing the sides of houses, which were once acceptable but are now considered red flags in high fire-risk areas like Ramona and Julian.

In recent years, the costs associated with construction, contractors, and home building have seen a significant uptick. Insurance companies have sought rate hikes in response, but these increases have not yet been approved by the California Insurance Commissioner’s Office.

Ramirez notes that due to this delay, several insurance companies have ceased writing new policies in California. Notable names such as State Farm, Nationwide, Allstate, and Geico are among those no longer offering policies in the state. Even Farmers Insurance has slowed its policy-writing activities in California. The few companies that still provide coverage in the state are contemplating withdrawal if they cannot secure the desired premiums.

Given this complex situation, Ramirez emphasizes the importance of guiding homeowners and informing them about available options in these challenging times.