Seven new states in the Western U.S. are now part of a new wildfire preparedness designation program designed to help homeowners and builders in high-risk areas better protect properties and neighborhoods.
The states were among 10 added to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety’s Wildfire Prepared designation, which is now up to 14 states. The program offers two levels for individual properties: Wildfire Prepared Home, which outlines actions to reduce risk from wind-driven embers, and Wildfire Prepared Home Plus, an enhanced level of protection against radiant heat and direct flame contact.
Homeowners obtain the IBHS program designation by completing mitigation steps verified by a third party. The program also includes Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood, which recognizes builders and communities working together to reduce home-to-home wildfire spread.
The program is now available in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Montana, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. It was previously available in California, Nevada, New Mexico and Oregon.
A Florida public adjuster, already facing prosecution for similar alleged misappropriation in 2024, now stands accused of diverting more than $600,000 in insurance settlements for homeowners hit by Hurricane Ian.
Francisco Javier Chaparro-Araus, 46, of All Elements Public Adjusters in Miramar, was arrested this week and charged with fraud, grand theft and misappropriation of funds. He was booked into the Broward County jail after state investigators examined complaints from multiple policyholders.
“Although the settlement checks were deposited into a Bank of America business account which was solely controlled by the defendant, he unlawfully withheld and failed to remit a total of $611,473.39 in insurance settlement proceeds owed to ten separate policyholders,” reads the probable cause affidavit, on file in Broward County Circuit Court.
Investigators with the Florida Department of Financial Services found that Chapparo depleted the funds through online transfers, check cards, and “substantial cash withdrawals from the Seminole Hard Rock and Calder Casinos,” the affidavit reads.
DFS records show Chaparro, of Miramar, had his Florida public adjuster license suspended in 2015 and in 2024. His firm, All Elements Public Adjusting, is not licensed, records show. Florida Secretary of State corporation records show the firm was incorporated in 2017, by Chaparro, but failed to file annual reports after 2022.