Photo: Cindy White
One of the areas hardest hit by the McDougall Creek fire was Traders Cove.
We are getting a clearer picture of where this summer’s wildfires fit on the country’s natural disaster scale.
of Insurance Bureau of Canada They estimated that the Okanagan and Shuswap fires alone caused insured losses of $720 million. This made it the 10th costliest disaster in recent Canadian history.
That’s comparable to the storm that hit parts of Ontario in 2018, but well below the $4.3 billion cost of the Fort McMurray wildfire, which topped the list.
“This year’s wildfire season set a record for the amount of land burned and the amount of damage caused to homes and businesses in British Columbia,” said Aaron Sutherland, vice president, Pacific and Western, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). “I broke it,” he said.
“Our hearts go out to all the individuals and families affected by these wildfires, and to the firefighters who lost their lives protecting our communities. “It’s a tragic reminder of the risks our state’s residents face from climate change” and the increasing frequency of natural disasters. ”
The total insured losses from the MacDougall Creek, Walroy Lake and Bush Creek East fires far exceeded the 2003 Okanagan Mountain Park fire in Kelowna, where damages were set at $200 million. There is.
West Kelowna officials have confirmed 70 homes were damaged in the wildfires, with 20 lost in Westbank First Nation, according to the health department. An estimated 100 structures were completely destroyed in the Traders Cove and Okanagan Lake resort areas. Okanagan Lake Resort was also destroyed.
The Bush Creek East Fire caused significant property damage in communities north of Shuswap Lake.
“More than 270 structures are confirmed to have been destroyed. Additionally, the Bush Creek East wildfire caused extensive damage to public infrastructure, including damage to water poles that caused power outages to thousands of customers. ” said the IBC.
“Canadian insurance companies are here to help our customers rebuild from this devastating loss,” Sutherland added. “Wildfire damage is covered by all standard home and commercial insurance policies. Anyone affected by these fires or who has questions about their coverage should call their insurance representative at Insurance representatives are there to assist and support consumers in their recovery and recovery efforts.”
If you have general insurance questions, you can also contact IBC’s Consumer Information Center at 1-844-2ask-IBC.
The insured loss amount is an estimated amount presented by our company. CatIQ Under license to IBC.
Photo: Insurance Bureau of Canada
The 2023 Okanagan and Shuswap fires rank as the 10th worst disaster in Canadian history in terms of insured losses.
