On the edge of the Boise Foothills, Scott Montgomery walks the perimeter of his property. Each year, he clears brush, cuts back trees, and trims grass down to the dirt. Anything to keep flames at bay. He has lived in his neighborhood for more than 50 years, long enough to watch wildfires roar dangerously close. But this fall, it wasn’t fire that threatened his home. It was his insurance company, which dropped him after decades of coverage, according to Idaho News 6.
What’s happening?
Homeowners in Idaho’s Boise Foothills are facing steep insurance hikes and canceled policies as companies respond to growing wildfire risks. Residents report premiums doubling in just a few years, only to be dropped altogether.
Montgomery told local outlet Idaho News 6 that his policy jumped by 60% last year before his insurer sent a nonrenewal notice. Despite clearing brush and removing trees to reduce fire danger, his mitigation efforts weren’t considered.”We have not had the same situation that neighboring states have had with loss of homes on a massive scale because of fire, but we are being punished like it has happened here in Idaho by insurance carriers,” said state Rep. Monica Church (D), who represents District 19, per the local outlet.
Why is this change important?
Without insurance, families are left financially exposed if fire sweeps through their neighborhoods. Homeownership, already the largest asset for most Americans, becomes far riskier without affordable coverage.
The problem ties directly to worsening fire seasons across the West, fueled by hotter, drier conditions linked to pollution from burning coal, oil, and gas. Longer summers and less reliable rainfall have made forests more flammable, creating conditions where a single spark can threaten entire communities…