Washington Wildfire Emergency Order

On August 3, 2026, the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) issued Emergency Order No. 26-01 following Governor Bob Ferguson's statewide emergency proclamation in response to the 2026 wildfires. The Order directs property and automobile insurers to provide temporary relief to policyholders in wildfire-affected areas.

Effective dates: August 3, 2026 through September 30, 2026

For policies covering a risk in the affected areas, the Order requires insurers to:

Provide 45-day grace periods for premium payments and waive all late fees and reinstatement fees.
Not cancel a policy for nonpayment unless directed to do so by the policyholder.
Extend the cancellation and nonrenewal notice period for property coverage from 60 days to 120 days before the policy's expiration date.
Extend the cancellation and nonrenewal notice period for personal auto coverage from 20 days to 60 days before the policy's expiration date.

The Order applies to all ZIP codes and adjacent ZIP codes in Washington State where wildfires have burned homes or other structures, or where official evacuation orders have been issued. The Washington Emergency Order No. 26-01 details the full Order and insurer requirements.

Emergency orders and affected areas can change over time. For the most up-to-date information, visit the https://www.insurance.wa.gov/.