One of the largest insurers in the nation is launching a free pilot program across Southern California aimed at guarding homes against firestorms.
This month, Farmers Insurance Group began notifying policyholders in designated areas of San Diego County and nearby regions that their property may be sprayed with a chemical retardant before or during a wildfire.
At least two other major insurance companies have offered a similar service for years, but only at an added cost to property owners.
“Right now it tends to be kind of a premium service because it costs a lot of money,” said Tully Lehman, spokeswoman for the Insurance Information Network of California. “Any time you see trends like this, insurers will take notice.”
It is unclear how many policyholders are included in the offer or where it applies within Southern California. Company officials did not respond to specific questions about the program.
According to the mailed notifications, designated Farmers-insured properties are automatically enrolled in the service, but owners can opt out.
The insurance company said the retardant is safe for pets and landscaping. Property owners will be notified their homes were treated by a hanger placed on their door once the process is completed, the insurer said.
At least one customer was pleased with the offer.
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Farmers firesafe program
 Under a free pilot program, designated Farmers-insured properties are sprayed with fire retardant.
The program is available to Farmers policyholders in select areas across Southern California, but customers can opt out.
The program will tentatively end Dec. 13.
Affected customers have been notified by mail.
For more information, call Farmers at (888) 327-6335.
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Beverly Shaffer, who lives along Tecolote Canyon in Clairemont, hasn't faced a wildfire in the 22 years she has been there. But she said she is happy to take advantage of the program.
“If the fire was coming, they could spray it with anything they want just to get it stopped,” said Shaffer, 74.
The pilot project is called Farmers Firesafe. Under the effort, Hood River, Ore.-based Firebreak Spray Systems will apply a colorless liquid retardant called Phos-Chek that remains effective until washed away.
Farmers offers no assurance that homes will receive the treatment or that damage would be avoided for those that are treated.
The company said its research department wants to conduct the test project to see whether it pencils out for a wider audience in the future. The program will end Dec. 13.
State fire officials welcomed the idea, but they warned that state law requires 100 feet of clearance surrounding structures regardless of whether property has been treated with a commercial retardant.
“There's a reason the law's in existence, and there's a reason we enforce it,” said Janet Upton, a Cal Fire spokeswoman.
Insurers absorbed heavy losses from the 2003 and 2007 firestorms that ravaged the county and other parts of Southern California.
According to the Insurance Information Network, which represents about two-thirds of home insurers in the state, wildfire claims from the combined disasters totaled more than $3.5 billion.
Jeff McDonald: (619) 542-4585; jeff.mcdonald@uniontrib.com
