With wealth comes certain advantages and special treatment--even when talking about fire protection. That's because companies like Firebreak Spray Systems, which partners with the insurance company American International Group Inc., are offering personal fire assistance to wealthy home owners. AIG offers the service as part of its Wildfire Protection Unit only to residents in particular California zip codes including Malibu, Beverly Hills, Newport Beach, Menlo Park and certain Colorado resort areas. To receive the service, policyholders must pay premiums of at least $10,000 a year and own a home worth at least $1 million. Some residents are singing the praises of companies such as Firebreak after fires swept through their neighborhoods this week. "Just picture it. Here you are in that raging wildfire. Smoke everywhere. Flames everywhere. Plumes of smoke coming up over the hills. Here's a couple guys showing up in what looks like a firetruck who are experts trained in fighting wildfire and they're there specifically to protect your home," said one homeowner whose home was saved thanks to the service.
There are also other fire prevention businesses targeting the elite. Critics, including author Naomi Klein, say they're concerned businesses like these will lead to a "disaster apartheid" where the affluent are more equipped for emergencies.
By the way, as a follow-up to the fire resources blog we posted on Tuesday, here's a detailed map you can use to determine fire perimeters down to exact cross streets, something the Google Maps don't offer. As a Poynteronline blog suggests, these maps can tell you, on a street-by-street basis, what has burned and what is still burning.