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09/17/2025 – 09:54 AM
SEATTLE – As wildfires intensify across California and the Western U.S., insurers are increasingly deploying advanced technologies to better assess and manage risk. Mercury Insurance (NYSE: MCY) announced today that it has partnered with Milliman, a global consulting and actuarial firm, to integrate XyloPlan’s building-level Wildfire Risk Scores into its underwriting process. This move underscores a broader trend of the insurance industry embracing data-driven solutions to mitigate the financial impacts of escalating wildfire seasons.
The integration leverages Milliman’s PinPoint API, providing Mercury Insurance with granular, property-specific risk assessments. XyloPlan’s technology offers a significant departure from traditional hazard maps, which often generalize risk, by simulating how fires actually spread. This model accounts for critical factors such as vegetation density, terrain, weather patterns, and even local mitigation efforts. The result is a dynamic, forward-looking risk score that updates as conditions change, providing a more accurate and timely assessment of potential wildfire damage.
“Wildfire science is evolving rapidly, and our technology for evaluating risk must keep pace,” stated Stephen Bennett, Head of Climate and Catastrophe Science at Mercury Insurance. “Leveraging XyloPlan’s deep understanding of fire pathways and conflagration helps us develop property-level insight to better protect our customers and communities.” This approach allows Mercury to more accurately assess risk, tailor pricing to specific exposures, and guide customers toward proactive mitigation strategies.
Dave Winnacker, Co-Founder of XyloPlan and a former fire chief, emphasized the need for a shared understanding of fire behavior, particularly in the wildland-urban interface. “Insurers and communities need a common operating picture grounded in how fire really moves,” said Winnacker. “This collaboration helps translate decades of on-the-ground fire service experience into operational intelligence that supports underwriting decisions, strengthens community resilience, and empowers smarter investments in mitigation.”
Milliman’s PinPoint API plays a crucial role in delivering XyloPlan’s risk scores, seamlessly integrating them with other geospatial indicators, such as local topography, vegetation characteristics, and structure density information, into Mercury’s existing workflow. This integration empowers underwriters with a comprehensive view of risk factors, enabling more informed and data-driven decisions.
“Carriers need access to granular, forward-looking risk tools that capture both structure- and community-level measures of risk,” said Garrett Bradford, Principal & GIS Consultant at Milliman. “By integrating XyloPlan’s dynamic wildfire risk scores into the PinPoint platform, we’re helping insurers like Mercury make more confident, data-driven decisions in the face of increasing wildfire volatility.” The partnership highlights the evolving landscape of wildfire risk management, where insurers are shifting from reactive responses towards proactive, data-driven strategies. This trend reflects a growing recognition of the need for precise risk assessment and mitigation in the face of climate change and increasing wildfire frequency and intensity. The adoption of technologies like XyloPlan’s Fire Pathways model signals a strategic shift towards a more resilient and sustainable insurance market capable of navigating the challenges posed by wildfires.
About Mercury Insurance
Mercury Insurance (NYSE: MCY) is a leading independent broker and insurer offering auto, homeowners, and commercial coverage across multiple states. Known for its reliable service and competitive pricing, Mercury has helped protect individuals and businesses for more than 60 years.
About XyloPlan
XyloPlan equips insurers, communities, and land managers with advanced wildfire modeling and mitigation solutions. Built around real-world fire behavior and risk dynamics, XyloPlan’s Fire Pathways engine helps clients quantify exposure, prioritize action, and support resilience for buildings and communities.
About Milliman
Milliman leverages deep expertise, actuarial rigor, and advanced technology to develop solutions for a world at risk. We help clients in the public and private sectors navigate urgent, complex challenges—from extreme weather and market volatility to financial insecurity and rising health costs—so they can meet their business, financial, and social objectives. Our solutions encompass insurance, financial services, healthcare, life sciences, and employee benefits. Founded in 1947, Milliman is an independent firm with offices in major cities around the globe. Visit us at milliman.com.
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