Being in Saskatchewan, we are exposed to every type weather element. Hail, Wind, Extreme Heat, Rain, Snow, Ice, etc. When some of these items combine together, disaster is inevitable.
A couple years ago, we had a very dry spring, and along with our constant wind, we had some extreme forest fire situations in Northern Saskatchewan. BC is experiencing a wave of forest fires this year as well, and they are extremely difficult to contain. Thanks to the many firefighters and volunteers who risk their lives to help put these fires out.
In Saskatchewan, during the fall around harvest time, the ground, grass, crops can all become quite dry. With the dry vegetation and the warm weather, the conditions are primed for a potential grass fire. When working in the fields, having a campfire or doing any kind of work outside, a fire extinguisher should be kept close by the working area. By having this handy, you will be able to put out any initial spark; which can be a small but large way to prevent a potential fire.
If a fire does occur, it is important that you carry the appropriate coverage on your policy for any potential losses. If you reside in an urban area, you should check with your village, town or city to make sure your taxes cover any fire department charges there could be – for attending a fire that you would be responsible for. If you reside in a rural area, your local fire department will respond, but there is a good chance that you will be responsible for the charges for the call out and any work the fire department does to put out the fire. If you happen to live near multiple RM’s or Towns/Cities, multiple departments can show up to a fire, and the costs for these services can be quite hefty. Just for one fire department to show up, the call-out fee can be upwards of $1200 and then an additional $800-$1000 per hour for dealing with the fire.
To cover these costs, you can purchase “Volunteer Fire Fighting” on your home/farm policy. Some insurance companies include $2000, $5000 or $10,000 of coverage for this. Please check with us to make sure you have this coverage and that it is adequate for your area. We strongly encourage you talk to your local RM office to see what the fire fighting costs are and what amount people generally carry on their policies. Depending on your area, you may want to carry at least $15-20,000 of coverage to be sure you have adequate coverage.
As always, if you have any questions about this coverage, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our insurance professionals.