PRESS RELEASE

Release Date: 1/4/21

Insurance Agents Get New Resources to Help Property Owners Prepare for Wildfire Season

Agents with better data can educate homeowners and business owners about how to reduce risk 

Seattle, WA — The 2020 wildfire season showed how important it is for homeowners and business owners to understand their property risk and take mitigation steps early. Those who do can prevent non-renewals, reduce their risk of property damage and possibly earn discounts from insurance companies. 

“We believe insurance agents are in an excellent position to help their customers learn more about their wildfire risks and how to mitigate them,” said Bryan Stanwood, vice president of BuildingMetrix, a data-solutions provider to the insurance industry. “We have created a new way to provide useful wildfire data and information so agents can identify the customers who most need their help.” 

BuildingMetrix’s new Wildfire Risk Tool provides agents with unbiased information about key wildfire risk factors for any location in the continental U.S. Agents can quickly see which of their customers face high risk of wildfire-related property damage and can provide them with educational resources on risk mitigation, such as creating defensible space, doing roof maintenance and keeping combustible items away from a home or business. 

“The Wildfire Risk Tool is just the first example of the products and resources we are developing for insurance companies and agents,” said Karl J. Newman, president and CEO of BuildingMetrix. “Look for more upcoming innovation to help you serve your customers even more effectively.” 

The Wildfire Risk Tool gives agents information on: 

• Whether a property is in the wildland-urban interface, the zone where wildland and development meet. 
• Whether past wildfires have occurred near the property, and if so, when. 

The tool is easy to use. Simply enter an address or latitude-longitude anywhere in the continental U.S. Your results will include links to blog posts explaining each of the data elements, and the BuildingMetrix Help Center includes step-by-step instructions on using the tool, complete with screenshots. 

About BuildingMetrix 

BuildingMetrix helps property insurers effectively assess emerging risks and insurance agents gain and satisfy customers. Our data solutions give insight into key risks affecting property throughout the U.S. We pair expertise with innovation to deliver valuable data and exceptional customer service.  

BuildingMetrix is part of the Washington Survey and Rating Bureau (WSRB). Learn more about WSRB at www.wsrb.com.  

Contact: 
Sandra Bird 
Vice President of Marketing, Sales & Customer Experience  
WSRB 
206-217-9772 
Sandra.Bird@wsrb.com 
www.buildingmetrix.com