Intact Financial Corporation announced May 7 that it has engaged Montana-based Wildfire Defense Systems (WDS) to provide wildfire loss prevention and suppression services to customers when their homes are threatened by wildfires that are less than five kilometers away.

The companies warn that they cannot guarantee that homes will be serviced or that WDS’s actions can fully prevent homes from being damaged by wildfires, but they say services can include removing materials from around the property that may fuel a fire, including firewood, propane tanks, furniture and grass clippings. The company will also cover exterior vents and close garage doors to prevent embers from igniting the home’s interior. In cases, the company may also set up temporary sprinkler systems.

WDS exclusively serves insurance companies to provide loss intervention services to insured properties in North America.

As part of the pilot project, the WDS service is automatically included with eligible Intact Insurance, belairdirect and Intact Prestige home insurance policies in Alberta and British Columbia, at no additional cost for the upcoming 2024 wildfire season.