The burning truth: past, present and future wildfire activity

In this IIL property webinar, Dr John Wardman reviews the impacts of recent fire seasons in the US and Europe, discusses the environmental and anthropogenic factors contributing to structure loss during extreme fire events, and surmises what future wildfire activity might look like in a progressively warming world.

Lahaina, Hawaii, Corfu, Greece, Boulder, Colorado. Re/insured losses from wildfires have undergone an apparent step change since the 2017/18 California wildfire seasons. This has drawn concern from carriers as they grapple with the uncertainties of wildfire risk. Several environmental and human factors dictate the start, spread and suppression of wildfires, making wildfire a challenging peril to model and manage. Well-documented changes in western US fire frequency and intensity in the last century have stoked fears over a potential new era in wildfire activity under climate change.

While climate change is contributing to observed increases in fire weather (hot, dry and windy conditions), season lengths, burn intensity and severity and annual burned area, humans have also played a significant role in expanding the global fire niche.

Learning objectives:

• Factors which drive wildfire hazard (frequency and intensity)
• How wildfire risk has changed over recorded history
• Scientific views on future wildfire hazard in a warming world

Chair: Laura Clarke, International Property Underwriter, Convex

You will be sent a confirmation email shortly after booking. If you have not received this within one hour, please contact Patricia Pedraza (020 7397 3911).