Opportunity lost in Fort McMurray rebuild, says insurance expert

Fort McMurray is missing an opportunity to make itself more fire-resilient as it rebuilds, an insurance expert says.

"As they rebuild those homes, they're rebuilding them largely the same way they were, with the same materials that burned," said Bill Adams, a vice president with the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

Adams told a Conference Board of Canada meeting onlessons learned from last year's wildfire, part of the problem is the economic downturn doesn't leave homeowners in a position to afford upgrading to fire-safe materials.

"There's not a lot of people who have a lot of extra money that they can invest now while they're rebuilding to make those improvements," he said Tuesday in Edmonton.

"Insurance, which is paying the bulk of the costs for rebuilding the community,only provides enough money to put you back in your preexisting condition."

Adams suggested introducing fire-resilient upgrades might mean foregoing or holding off on other features that existed in the home previously, such as granite countertops or finishing the basement.

He said it's up to the insurance industry, government and communities to educatehomeowners aware of their options.

Last year's wildfire destroyed more than 2,400 homes and structures and forced nearly 90,000people to evacuate the area.