With the state of California ablaze with wildfires, it is a sad reminder to all homeowners to update or purchase home insurance.

At the time of writing this blog, the Station wildfire in the Los Angeles mountains has grown to 190 square miles and has destroyed 53 homes. A state of emergency has been declared by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in four California counties: Los Angeles, Monterey, Mariposa and Placer. In Auburn, California, less than 30 miles from InsWeb headquarters, 60 structures, most of them homes, burned this past weekend in a wind-driven fire.

Wildfires happen every summer in the West, where low humidity and high temperatures provide just the right combination to drive the flames. And when the Santa Ana winds pick up, fighting those flames becomes even harder. But wildfires can happen anywhere, not just in California.

The devastating damage from wildfires is fortunately covered under a standard home insurance policy. Should a home be destroyed or damaged in a wildfire, a home insurance policy covers damage to the home, personal belongings, and can even cover living expenses while the home is being rebuilt. It is recommended that all homeowners make a home inventory to speed up the reimbursement process.

Hopefully these California wildfires can act as a reminder to all homeowners to update or purchase home insurance.