Wildfires risk in Delaware

You're at a closing in Milford, and the seller's disclosure mentions a brush fire two springs ago that stopped a quarter mile from the back fence. The inspector shrugs. It's Delaware — flat, green, wet. But that doesn't mean fire never happens here.

Delaware's statewide wildfire risk is rated level 1 of 5. That's low. Low isn't zero. The state has pine forests in Sussex County, sandy soils, and dry spring winds. Most fires are small and start along roads or railroads. A dry April can change that.

Who this hits hardest

If you live in western Sussex County — near Redden State Forest, Ellendale, Milton, or Georgetown — you're in the part of Delaware where pine woods and dry brush meet houses. Same for parts of Kent County around Dover and Milford where development pushes into fields and woodlots. New Castle County is more urban, but Wilmington and Newark have plenty of older wood-frame homes packed close together. A fire there spreads house to house.

Renters get hit, too. If you rent a house with a wooden deck and pine needles in the gutters, you don't control the maintenance. Mobile homes and manufactured housing can go up fast. And anyone who relies on a well and a pump loses water when the power goes out — which often happens before the fire arrives.

The people who struggle most after a wildfire are the ones who never thought it could happen. In a low-risk state like Delaware, that's most of us. You might not have a go-bag. You might not know your evacuation route. You might assume your insurance covers everything. It probably covers fire, but not always the way you think.

After the event — claims and repairs

Standard homeowners insurance in Delaware typically covers wildfire damage. Fire is a named peril on almost every policy. That means the structure, your personal belongings, and additional living expenses if you have to stay elsewhere. But "covers" doesn't mean "covers everything." Check your deductible. Check your limits for outbuildings, fences, and trees. Smoke damage is sometimes covered, sometimes denied — it depends on your policy language and the adjuster.

Flood insurance is separate. It doesn't cover fire. Fire insurance doesn't cover flood. If a wildfire burns the slope behind your house and the next rain sends mud into your basement, that's often a flood claim, not a fire claim. In Delaware, you'd need a separate NFIP policy for that. Most people don't have one.

After a major fire, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency coordinates with county and local officials. If there's a federal disaster declaration, FEMA may offer individual assistance. But that's not guaranteed. Your first call should be your insurance company, not the government. Document everything with photos and receipts before you clean up. Keep a copy of your policy in the cloud.

If your home is a total loss, your mortgage lender gets paid first from the insurance check. You get what's left. That can be a shock. Talk to your adjuster about how the payout works before you sign anything.

Before the season starts

Delaware's fire season usually peaks in spring — March through May — and again in fall. That's when dry winds, low humidity, and dead leaves line up. Winter can be dry, too. The time to act is now, not when you smell smoke.

Clear pine needles and leaves from your roof and gutters. That's the single biggest thing. Embers land there and smolder. Then move the woodpile, propane tank, and mulch beds at least five feet from the foundation. Keep grass mowed short within 30 feet of the house. Screen your vents and chimney with metal mesh. If you have a deck, clear the gaps between boards.

Make a go-bag: water, medications, phone charger, important papers, a change of clothes. Know two ways out of your neighborhood. Sign up for Delaware alerts through DEMA. And talk to your neighbors — if one person clears their lot, it helps everyone.

If I had one weekend before spring, I'd clean the gutters and the first five feet around the foundation. That's more effective than a new roof. You don't need to be a firefighter. You just need to make your house boring to embers.

Questions we get

Does homeowners insurance in Delaware cover wildfire damage?

Usually yes. Fire is a standard covered peril. But check your policy for special deductibles in wildland areas, sublimits on trees and landscaping, and whether smoke damage is included. Flood is excluded, so if the fire leads to mudflow, you'll need separate flood coverage.

Is wildfire risk in Delaware really only level 1?

Statewide, yes — FEMA's National Risk Index puts Delaware at level 1 of 5. But that's an average. Western Sussex County and parts of Kent County have more fuel and more homes in the woods. A dry spring can push local risk higher than the statewide number suggests.

What should I do if a wildfire starts near my Delaware home?

Follow evacuation orders from DEMA and local officials immediately. Don't wait to see the flames. Take your go-bag, close windows and doors, and leave lights on so firefighters can see your house. If you have time, move patio furniture and propane tanks away from the structure.

Official sources

• Delaware Emergency Management Agency
• National Interagency Fire Center
• Ready.gov – Wildfires
• US Forest Service – Fire