AIG, Other Insurers Offer Fire-Prevention Aid

The cost of an evaluation and services will vary depending on insurance coverage, the size of the home and the effort involved in installing an irrigation system or removing vegetation. Clearing some shrubbery or an old, dried up tree can cost a few hundred dollars, whereas clearing a large swath of vegetation can costs several thousand.

Homeowners should first check their insurance policy to determine whether the insurer offers any preventative services or referrals to outside contractors. Homeowners should also ensure that they are adequately covered in case of a devastating wildfire. If the policy covers the home at $500,000, but replacing the home would cost $750,000 and the contents cost another $250,000, it might not be sufficient.

While the cost of the preventive measures and insurance premiums might seem high, such initiative could ultimately be less costly -- and less devastating -- than losing a valuable home and all its contents.

"Anybody can write a check -- we have very fast hands that can write checks," Triano says. "But we've found out that most folks want to preserve their stuff rather than get a check."