Defend home against fire

With the Foothill and Pine fires raging, insurers last week urged Southland homeowners to have "layers of protection" in place in the event of a wildfire or other disaster.

"Homeowners must prepare both physically and financially," said Candysse Miller, executive director of the Insurance Information Network of California, a nonprofit group representing insurers.

Preparation should include fire-safe landscaping, a household evacuation plan and community involvement in fire planning. Financial preparation should focus on maintaining a household inventory, updating insurance policies and keeping copies of critical documents stored away from the home. For details, go to the IINC website at www.iinc.org.