If you live in Tucson's Catalina Foothills or any neighborhood that backs up to the desert, you've probably noticed something unsettling over the past few years: your homeowners insurance is getting expensive. Or worse, your insurer sent you a non-renewal notice. You're not imagining it. Arizona homeowners insurance rates jumped 48% between 2021 and 2024—the third-highest increase in the entire country. And wildfire risk is a big reason why.
Here's the thing about wildfire insurance in Tucson: it's not actually a separate policy. Wildfire damage is covered under your standard homeowners insurance. The problem isn't whether you're covered if a fire destroys your home—you probably are. The problem is getting an insurance company to offer you a policy in the first place. Let's break down what's happening, why it matters, and what you can do about it.
Why Tucson Is in the Wildfire Crosshairs
Tucson sits in what fire experts call the wildland-urban interface, or WUI. That's the zone where your backyard ends and wild desert begins. It's beautiful—saguaros, mountain views, incredible sunsets. It's also where wildfires happen. The Catalina Foothills, which stretch along the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains, are textbook WUI territory.
In June 2020, Tucson got a wake-up call. The Bighorn Fire started from a lightning strike in the Santa Catalinas and eventually burned 119,987 acres—the largest fire ever recorded in Pima County. More than 1,000 firefighters battled the blaze for nearly two months. Hundreds of residents evacuated. The remarkable part? Not a single structure burned. That's a testament to the firefighters and to homeowners who'd created defensible space around their properties. But here's what insurance companies saw: a massive fire that cost $21.7 million to fight and came within feet of destroying neighborhoods.
Desert grassland fires behave differently than forest fires, but they're no less dangerous. Invasive grasses like buffelgrass have created continuous fuel beds in areas that historically didn't burn much. When conditions are hot, dry, and windy—which describes May and June in Tucson most years—these fires can spread fast. Add in the fact that native desert plants like saguaros aren't fire-adapted and die when burned, and you've got an ecosystem under serious stress.
The Insurance Availability Crisis
Let's be clear about what's happening: insurers aren't denying claims. They're refusing to write new policies or renew existing ones in high-risk areas. Social media in Tucson, especially in Catalina Foothills neighborhoods, is full of stories from homeowners who received non-renewal notices. State Senator Mark Finchem held hearings on the issue after getting flooded with complaints from constituents.
What makes this particularly frustrating for Arizona homeowners is that the state doesn't have a FAIR Plan. FAIR Plans are state-backed insurance programs designed to be the "insurer of last resort" for people who can't get coverage in the regular market. California has one. Florida has one. Arizona doesn't. That means if you're dropped by your insurer, you're on your own to find another one—and your options are limited and expensive.
Your main alternatives are surplus lines insurers. These companies operate outside the standard insurance market and specialize in high-risk properties. They're more flexible, but you'll pay significantly more. Some homeowners are also turning to standalone wildfire policies, which provide basic coverage for fire damage and can be layered with other policies to create comprehensive protection. Neither option is ideal, but they're better than being uninsured.
What You Can Do to Protect Your Coverage
The single most effective thing you can do is create defensible space around your home. This isn't just good practice—it's increasingly a requirement for getting insured. Defensible space means clearing flammable vegetation in a zone around your structure. The International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, which many jurisdictions follow, requires different distances based on hazard level: 30 feet for moderate hazard, 50 feet for high hazard, and 100 feet for extreme hazard.
In Tucson, that means removing dead brush, trimming tree branches that overhang your roof, replacing wood mulch with gravel in landscaping beds near your house, and clearing out that pile of firewood you've been meaning to move. It also means dealing with invasive grasses like buffelgrass, which is both a fire hazard and an ecological nightmare. Some insurance companies will actually work with you—if you can show you've taken mitigation steps, they may be willing to write or renew your policy.
Beyond vegetation management, consider fire-resistant building materials if you're renovating or building. Class A roofing (non-combustible materials like metal or tile), tempered glass windows, and enclosed eaves all reduce your home's vulnerability. These upgrades aren't cheap, but they can make the difference between getting insured at a reasonable rate and being forced into the surplus market.
If you're shopping for insurance, work with an independent agent who specializes in high-risk properties. They'll have access to carriers you won't find online and can navigate the surplus lines market. Get multiple quotes—pricing varies wildly between companies. And don't just focus on the premium. Look at coverage limits, deductibles, and what's actually covered. Some policies exclude wind-driven fire damage or limit coverage for detached structures, which could leave you badly underinsured.
How to Get Started
If you're a Tucson homeowner worried about wildfire insurance, start by assessing your property's risk. Walk your lot and look at it through an insurer's eyes. How much vegetation is within 30 feet of your house? Are tree branches touching your roof? Do you have wood shake shingles or a metal roof? Is there firewood stacked against your exterior wall? These are the things underwriters notice.
Next, document your mitigation efforts. Take photos of your cleared defensible space, keep receipts for fire-resistant materials, and get any Firewise certification your HOA or county offers. This documentation can be the difference between an approval and a denial. Then reach out to multiple agents and insurers. Don't assume you're stuck with whoever you have now. The market is tight, but it's not impossible—especially if you've done the work to reduce your risk.
Wildfire insurance in Tucson isn't getting easier anytime soon. Climate patterns, invasive species, and development pressures all point toward continued high fire risk. But homeowners who take proactive steps—clearing vegetation, hardening their homes, and working with specialized agents—can still find coverage. The Bighorn Fire proved that preparation works. Not a single home burned because firefighters had defensible space to work with. Your insurance company is looking for the same thing. Show them you're serious about wildfire risk, and you'll have a much better shot at affordable coverage.
