When Joelle Fraser-McGaghey had to evacuate her home during the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire, she only had a few minutes to pack before her family had to get out the door.
Trying to pull outdoor furniture away from her house was not at the top of her list.
“Honestly, I’m not thinking ‘Should I remove that propane tank?’ I’m thinking, ‘Let’s get my kids out of here and let’s get us to safety,'” she said in an interview.
Insurance companies have realized homeowners aren’t necessarily thinking about last-minute fire prevention when they’re packing up to evacuate. So a growing number are paying a U.S.-based firm to take on that responsibility.
Fraser-McGaghey’s insurance provider, Economical, is one of several Canadian insurers — including Aviva, Intact and Gore Mutual — …