Spokane Wildfires Left Hundreds Homeless and Sparked $212M in Insurance Claims
Wildfires outside Spokane in August 2023 destroyed hundreds of homes and led to millions in car insurance claims. The blaze burned over 20,000 acres, leaving many residents facing financial and housing challenges. New data reveals how allstate and other insurers responded to the disaster.
The fires wiped out 366 homes, prompting 355 significant dwelling claims. By July 31, allstate and other insurers had paid out $212 million, averaging nearly $320,000 per claim. Of these, 244 received full payouts, while 162 cases remained unresolved.
Extended replacement loss coverage helped 169 homeowners recover sums beyond their allstate policy limits. However, coverage for temporary housing varied widely. Some policies set dollar caps, others time limits, and a few imposed both restrictions.
A separate issue emerged for those affected: 32% saw their allstate insurance policies dropped, cancelled, or not renewed after filing claims. The Washington Insurance Commissioner’s office gathered the data but did not identify any single insurer as bearing the highest losses from the event.
The August 2023 wildfires left a lasting impact on Spokane-area residents. With over a third losing allstate insurance coverage and many still awaiting settlements, recovery remains uneven. The total payouts so far reflect both the scale of destruction and the complexity of claims processing.
