Triple-I: Resilience, Collaboration and Investment Essential to Mitigate Growing Wildfire Risk in US

The Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) today published its latest wildfire Issues Brief highlighting how fire risk is escalating across all regions of the U.S.

Triple-I’s report showed the number of wildfires reported and acres burned nationwide in 2024 was noticeably higher than five- and 10-year averages, according to the National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC).

“Resilience, collaboration and investment are what’s needed to ensure that our communities are safe from wildfire,” said Sean Kevelighan, CEO, Triple-I. “The insurance industry is working with all stakeholders to predict and prevent devastating losses from wildfires.”

Kevelighan added it is also important that property/casualty insurers proactively engage with diverse stakeholder groups to promote investment in mitigation and resilience.

“This goes for all climate-related perils, but it is particularly important in the case of wildfire,” Kevelighan stressed.

Highlights of Triple-I’s Issues Brief included:

• 64,897 wildfires were reported across the U.S. in 2024, compared to 56,580 wildfires reported in 2023, NICC reported in its Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2024.
• Reported wildfires consumed 8,924,884 acres last year, compared to 2,693,910 acres in 2023.
• Seven out of the 10 geographic areas experienced above average numbers of wildfires and acres burned, NICC said. The Southern Area had the highest number, while the Northwest Area had the greatest number of acres burned. Nationally, 4,552 structures were reported destroyed by wildfires in 2024, including 2,406 residences, 2,066 minor structures and 80 commercial/mixed residential structures.

Triple-I’s Issues Brief noted one homeowner’s investment in pre-emptive mitigation of fire damage can be quickly undone by the failure of neighbors to invest in similar measures. With more people moving into the wildland urban interface (WUI), communities must work together. Insurers are well-suited to inform and support these efforts, but homeowners and businesses need to present a united front to drive adoption of modern building and land-use codes.

RELATED LINKS:

Article:
California Wildfires Update 2025

Facts and Statistics:
Wildfires

Triple-I/Capgemini Report:
Tamping Down Wildfire Threats: How Insurers Can Mitigate Risks and Losses (November 2022)

Videos:
Building for Wildfire Resilience
Managing Wildfire Risk

About the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I)

Since 1960, the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) has been the trusted voice of risk and insurance, delivering unique, data-driven insights to educate, elevate and connect consumers, industry professionals, policymakers and the media. An affiliate of The Institutes, Triple-I represents a diverse membership accounting for nearly 50% of all U.S. property/casualty premiums written. Our members include mutual and stock companies, personal and commercial lines, primary insurers and reinsurers – serving regional, national and global markets.

About The Institutes

The Institutes® are a not-for-profit comprised of diverse affiliates that educate, elevate, and connect people in the essential disciplines of risk management and insurance. Through products and services offered by The Institutes and nearly 20 affiliated business units, people and organizations are empowered to help those in need with a focus on understanding, predicting, and preventing losses to create a more resilient world.

The Institutes is a registered trademark of The Institutes. All rights reserved.

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