California FAIR Plan rates jump nearly 30% as homeowners seek wildfire insurance alternatives

California homeowners are facing another financial blow as insurance rates under the state's FAIR Plan increase by an average of 29.1% starting Thursday.The California FAIR Plan provides basic fire insurance to property owners who cannot obtain coverage through traditional insurance companies. Although created by the state, the program is operated and funded by private insurers.As insurance companies pull back from wildfire-prone areas, more homeowners have been forced to rely on the FAIR Plan, often paying significantly higher premiums for more limited coverage.But some homeowners are discovering that investing in wildfire protection can help them qualify for more affordable insurance.For years, Napa County homeowner Phil Burton put off creating defensible space around his Pope Valley property. That changed after the devastating Glass Fire swept through Napa County in 2020, destroying parts of nearby Deer Park and threatening his community."We watched it for two days burn across the h