Nicholas Toscano co-authored and was a law clerk in Tyson & Mendes’ 2026 clerkship program.

On June 19th, 2026, the Pocket Fire began approximately seven miles north of Sedona, Arizona.[1] By July 30th, the fire was completely contained but had still managed to burn “over 27,000 acres”.[2] The fire was a brutal demonstration of how quickly wildfire conditions can escalate in Arizona’s dry climate; it was lucky rain provided firefighters assistance in containment in inaccessible areas.[3] But despite its large size and the help from the rain, the Pocket Fire was a wildfire-response success rather than a catastrophic insured loss. Fire officials reported no fatalities, no widespread structural losses, and no significant damage to nearby communities thanks to the work of more than 1,200 firefighters assigned to contain the fire.[4] However, even without extreme losses, the Pocket Fire illustrates an important lesson for the insurance industry: Fires can happen and spread quickly, and preparation for wildfire claims, disputes, or litigation should begin before the fire occurs.

Wildfire claims require careful analysis of both the extent and cause of damage. Disputes may arise from a multitude of circumstances regarding coverage and damages. Accurate documentation and early communication are therefore critical for a successful and smooth claims process. Moreover, Arizona law requires insurers to handle claims fairly and promptly.[5] Therefore, proper preparation before a wildfire can help insurers and adjusters meet this obligation while also providing policyholders with clear information regarding their coverage and protections.

But how does this planning and preparation work in practice? For insurers, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) encourages collaboration with federal, state, and local governments, insurance regulators, fire protection agencies, and homeowners.[6] This collaboration helps stakeholders better identify wildfire risks and mitigation procedures to then promote them to consumers and policyholders.[7]

Essentially, one of the strongest actions insurers can take is to promote wildfire prevention tips to their clients! This ultimately assists in lowering claim rates and reducing overall damage from unavoidable losses. Insurers can also prepare for wildfire claims by educating policyholders about their coverage and documentation policies before a wildfire occurs. Through promotion of wildfire prevention tips and clear communication of coverage, insurers can help reduce both the physical losses themselves and any potential coverage disputes.

For adjusters, wildfire preparation means understanding catastrophe protocols implemented by insurance companies and effectively communicating coverage and protection to clients. Adjusters should be sure to familiarize themselves with deployment protocols when assessing any potential fire damage. Additionally, adjusters should promote wildfire mitigation practices to their clients to decrease the likelihood of any physical loss. By familiarizing themselves with insurance company protocols and policies, adjusters help decrease liability on the parts of insurers.

For policyholders, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides some practical tips for policyholders to prepare and mitigate fire losses. FEMA recommends that building owners should take proactive steps to reduce wildfire risks, including maintaining a
“defensible space” around the building, removing combustible materials from surrounding areas, clearing rooftop/gutter waste, and “plan[ning] for access to water” in the event of a fire.[8] FEMA also suggests policyholders should “review…[their]…insurance policy” and “verify…coverage” since understanding available insurance protections can help the recovery process go smoothly.[9] Lastly, policyholders should document their personal belongings through photographs and videos (uploaded to a cloud-based service for safe storage) to assist in a potential claim.[10] Through these fire mitigation practices and documentation of belongings, policyholders decrease the risk of physical loss occurring at all and reduce the risk of inadequate documentation.

Ultimately, the Pocket Fire reminds us that effective wildfire insurance operations begin before the first claim is filed. While the Pocket Fire avoided widespread structural loss, it demonstrated how quickly fires can spread and ultimately disrupt communities. Proactive mitigation, clear communication, and collaboration remain of the utmost importance for policyholders, insurers, and adjusters. Do not wait for the flames; act now!

Keep Reading

The Reason for Reason Waiving the Past to Inflate the Future: When Plaintiffs Take Corenbaum Too Far The Origins of “Accountability”—Why It Matters to Civil Trial Attorneys NYC: The City That Never Stops Hosting Punitive Liability Through the Rear Window: Lessons Learned from a Class Action Filing Federal Preemption Over State Law Safety Claims – What That Means for Industries Regulated by the Federal Government How to Handle FTB-Suspended Entities Products Liability Alert: “Non-Habit Forming” Claims Put Sleep-Aid Marketing Under Scrutiny Give a Number: Why Silence May Be the Defense’s Most Expensive Mistake

More by this author

The Arizona Pocket Fire: Do Not Wait for the Flames, Act Now! Defusing the Nuclear Bomb: How to Prevent Outsized Verdicts Recent Arizona Appellate Decisions Favorably Impact the Insurance Industry Prepping for a Surge of COVID-19 Bad-Faith Issues Bad Faith in the Age of COVID-19 Tyson & Mendes Appellate Win In Arizona

Sources

[1] Wildfire Explorer by Cornea, Pocket wildfire, (Aug. 2026), https://fires.cornea.is/fire/arizona_pocket_2026-06-20-005141

[2] Arizona’s Family, Pocket Fire fully contained over a month after scorching 27K+ acres near Sedona, (July 30, 2026), https://www.azfamily.com/2026/07/30/pocket-fire-fully-contained-over-month-after-scorching-27k-acres-near-sedona/

[3] Id.

[4] Arizona Emergency Information Network, Pocket Fire Update: Defenses Cross 51% Containment as Crews Launch Final Canyon Lockdown, (July 7, 2026), https://ein.az.gov/pocket-fire-update-defenses-cross-51-containment-crews-launch-final-canyon-lockdown; KTAR.com, Remaining Pocket Fire resources focus on repair work as crews move toward full containment, (July 14, 2026), https://ktar.com/arizona-wildfire-news/pocket-fire-sedona-final.

[5] Ariz. Admin. Code R20-6-801.

[6] NAIC, Wildfires, (Last updated June 6, 2025), https://content.naic.org/insurance-topics/wildfires

[7] Id.

[8] FEMA, Protect Your Property From Wildfires, at 5, https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-11/fema_protect-your-property_wildfire.pdf

[9] Id. at 6.

[10] Id.