In our community we have a great many vacant lots that are overgrown with brush.  Farmers has cancelled fire insurance on homes that have brush within 200 feet.  Our home owners association is fining people $200. per month for not being in compliance with the CC&R's which require the lots to be free of undergrowth.  Lot clearing is a big business but it is sorely needed to keep what has happened in Lake Tahoe and Oakland from happening again.  I own five lots, you better believe that they are cleared!

We just had a business, in our town, burn to the ground.  Irony, the fire station is immediately across the street.  There was nothing they could but contain it because it burned so hot.  Sad part is it was an antique shop and they had no fire insurance.  I am sure that they would have had a cheap policy because of the fact the station was across the street.

On another note, for those that are rural, insurance companies will also ask where the nearest lake is.  The reason is a water source for the fire department should the trucks run out of water, they can throw a pump in the lake to fight the fire.