FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Arizona State Forester Thomas Torres briefed the Coconino County Board of Supervisors this week on the newly created Fire Insurance Review Task Force, a statewide group formed following the passage of House Bill 2045 on June 25, 2025.
The Task Force brings together representatives from the homeowners insurance industry and wildfire professionals with experience in risk assessment, prevention, and mitigation. Northern Arizona is represented locally by Flagstaff Fire Department Wildland Fire Battalion Chief Paul Oltrogge and Timber Mesa Fire District Chief Randy Chevalier. Task Force members are appointed by the State Forester and will serve two-year terms, with the first meeting scheduled for January 2026.
District 1 Supervisor and Board Chair Patrice Horstman said the issue is critical for residents across the region.
“There are things we can do as residents, communities, organizations and governments to address the wildfire insurance crisis in northern Arizona,” Horstman said. “We want to be part of the discussion and the solution. We are glad to have local representatives on the Task Force and look forward to learning about their work and recommendations.”
According to Torres, the Task Force will gather data from insurance companies related to coverage availability, premium rates, non-renewals, and policy cancellations. That information will be used to identify statewide trends and develop recommendations for the Arizona Legislature, including potential changes to building codes, permitting processes, local ordinances, and defensible space requirements aimed at reducing wildfire risk to homes.
The goal, officials say, is to provide data-driven tools and strategies that help mitigate wildfire impacts on residential properties and allow homeowners in high-risk areas to secure and maintain fire insurance at reasonable rates.
To identify areas of heightened wildfire risk, the Task Force will rely on the wildfirerisk.org model — a publicly available, peer-reviewed system that uses nationally consistent data to assess fire threats in both wildland and built environments.
Presentation slides and the full video of the Board of Supervisors discussion are available through Coconino County’s website.
