Insurance director warns wildfire losses and market tightening; seeks staff, equipment and a homeowner‑hardening pool

Department of Insurance Director Dean Cameron told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Jan. 21 that wildfires, rising reinsurance costs and inflation are tightening the property insurance market and driving consumer complaints, nonrenewals and a growing surplus‑lines market.

Cameron said Idaho burned just under 1 million acres in the prior year and that the department recorded more than 140 structures lost statewide, including about 40 residences. "This last year we burned a million acres, just under a million acres. That's horrific," Cameron said. He told lawmakers the agency has seen carriers restrict writing in parts of the state, increased reinsurance costs and multiple insurer insolvencies in the prior 12 months.

Why it matters: wildfire exposure and higher reinsurance costs are contributing to higher premiums, carriers withdrawing or limiting coverage in fire‑prone areas and greater use of surplus lines insurers, which do not carry the same consumer protections. The department proposed legislation to create a pool that would both help homeowners harden properties against wildfire and provide a mechanism to help carriers…