By The Restoration HQ desk · · filed under Storms & CAT
Wildfire is running 157% of average, and it's not just the West
3,168,102 acres burned as of June 30 to 157% of the 10-year average. The season broke out of its usual geography: Nebraska's largest fire on record (March), and Georgia's worst wildfire home losses (April, 50k+ acres, 120+ homes). Extreme heat now tops American weather fears, with drought, wildfire, and smoke close behind. Wildfire is the fastest-growing CAT peril globally, insured losses climbing ~12%/year.
FORWildfire is no longer a California problem, get S700-ready and smoke-capable now, before your market's first bad season.
AGAINSTChasing wildfire capability is how shops blow capital on equipment for a season that may not come to their market for years.
Consensus vs. contrarianContrarian: the money isn't in the fire, it's in the smoke and IAQ work that follows for months across a hundred-mile radius, and almost nobody is staffed for it.
Sources NIFC/season data via, www.epicenterinsights.com/the-weekly-why-thi… 2026 wildfire trends, www.dlapiper.com/en/insights/publications/20… heat fears, www.randrmagonline.com/articles/92094-extrem… ()