Insurers Offer Tips for Residents to Navigate Texas Wildfires

The Smokehouse Creek Fire has grown to more than 1 million acres in the Texas Panhandle, making it the second-largest wildfire in state history.

The fire is 3% contained as of Thursday morning according to officials with the Texas A&M Forest Service. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties.

Update: the #SmokehouseCreekFire in Hutchinson County is an estimated 1,075,000 acres and 3% contained. 1,050,000 acres have burned in Texas. The #687ReamerFire has burned into this fire. #txfire pic.twitter.com/HR0zqgX4jj

— Incident Information – Texas A&M Forest Service (@AllHazardsTFS) February 29, 2024

The American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) urges homeowners, renters, and business owners to continue following the orders of state and local officials and contact their insurance company as soon as possible to file a claim.

“Even if you are still evacuated, you can reach out to your insurer to get the claims process started,” said Lee Ann Alexander, vice president of state government relations for APCIA. “Insurers are ready to help residents impacted by the wildfires begin the recovery process and get the resources needed to take care of their immediate needs, like temporary housing.”

APCIA offers the following tips for navigating the recovery process after a wildfire:

For those in an area that may be threatened, but have not yet been ordered to leave, there are steps you can take to protect your finances and reduce your risk.

Photo: In this photo provided by the Flower Mound, Texas, Fire Department, Flower Mound firefighters respond to a fire in the Texas Panhandle, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. A rapidly widening Texas wildfire doubled in size Tuesday and prompted evacuation orders in at least one small town. (Flower Mound Fire Department via AP)