Ashland Insurance

10/16/2026

If you want to get out in front of your unique risk profile, doing a regular walk-through is a great way to identify hazards before a disaster.

Chase Browning says to keep it simple and look for things that are easily remedied.

Start outside: check if the address sign on the building has been obscured by vegetation and if the parking lot fire lane striping is faded.

Then, move inside to the public spaces. Look at the paths people use, test the backup battery on your exit signs by pushing the little button, and verify your exits are unobstructed.

Spending 15 to 30 minutes doing this every quarter puts you in a great position to pass your fire safety inspections.

Read our full step-by-step breakdown at the link in the comments!

10/14/2026

📦A simple cardboard box left in a hallway or an overloaded power outlet could actually be putting your business at risk.

We want our community to stay safe, so we got expert advice from Chase Browning, former Fire Marshal for the Medford Fire Department, about how to set your business up for a successful fire safety inspection.

When it comes to preparing your space, Chase shared three simple, general rules to keep in mind:

➡ Keep your exits clear: Make sure nothing is blocking your doors so people always have a visible, easy way out in an emergency.

➡ Fix your housekeeping: Clutter, misplaced space heaters, and overloaded wall outlets can all prove to be major fire hazards.

➡ Organize your records: Keeping your maintenance logs digitized and neatly filed away saves a lot of stress when it comes time for a review.

Get all of the tips for successful fire safety inspections in this week's 2 part series on our blog...you'd be surprised what you may have missed.

10/14/2026

75% of wintertime service calls are directly related to a lack of routine heating systems maintenance. Prevention is easy with these simple steps.

Don’t get caught in the cold. Now’s the time to get your home’s heating system winter-ready.

10/12/2026

Living through the intense smoke and evacuations of a Southern Oregon wildfire season is something we all prep for.

But fire can also be domesticated:
it can break out in the exact structures we work and live in year-round.

We wanted to focus on that everyday fire safety, so we stole some time from a true expert.

Chase Browning is the former Fire Marshal for Medford and the National Training Director for the National Fire Sprinkler Association. He has spent decades investigating how fires start when a fuel package meets an ignition source.

In our new Special Feature blog, Chase walks us through everything you need to know about structural fires and fire inspections. He explains why safety codes are built on real-world tragedies, not just red tape.

He also shares the exact tips you need to keep your property safe. You will learn why keeping exits totally clear is the absolute highest priority, why you cannot run extension cords across high-traffic floors, and how a quick 30-minute quarterly walk-through can help you spot hazards before a disaster strikes.

Take a look around your property today. What easily identifiable hazards can you fix right now?

10/09/2026

Moving out to the country offers incredible peace and quiet, but life definitely flows a bit differently out here.

With wider spaces come unique safety concerns— slipping on an icy sidewalk is just the beginning of the liability risks on a larger piece of land.

A standard city policy simply does not extend far enough to protect personal finances if someone is injured on the property and needs medical care. That is why setting up the right rural property home insurance is critical to covering all parties involved in an incident. Expanding those personal liability limits ensures that a family's savings remain shielded from the unexpected.

What steps have you taken to make your property safer for guests this season?

Click the link in the comments to get a quote for your rural property.

10/09/2026

October is National Pedestrian Safety month. Be aware of your surroundings and watch for pedestrians.

Long-Range Plan The Long-Range Plan serves as a blueprint for prioritizing funding for capital transportation investment in the region over a minimum 20-year period.

10/07/2026

A lot of folks who move out of the city have the same misconception: they assume the standard insurance policy they had in the suburbs will just seamlessly cover their new life out here.

😔 Unfortunately, standard policies just aren't built for country living.

A standard homeowner’s policy completely misses things like that new barn you just built, or the high-value equipment you bought to keep the property running.

That is exactly why setting up rural property home insurance is so important.

If you're building new sheds or bringing in heavy equipment, those need to be specifically scheduled on your policy to make sure you have the right replacement cost coverage.

‼ You can even get discounts just for putting up some basic security cameras or fire alarms.

We want to make sure there are no surprises if the unexpected happens. ‼Have you checked recently to see if all of your outbuildings are actually listed on your policy?

10/05/2026

Moving out to the country brings fresh air, open space, and a completely different set of risks.

When many families buy their dream acreage outside the city limits, they mistakenly assume a standard homeowners insurance policy will cover their vintage barn and new tractor.

It will not.

Life flows differently on a rural property, and your coverage must match that reality. From safeguarding high-value equipment to expanding personal liability for open land, you must protect every acre.

Securing dedicated rural property home insurance is the only way to shield your rural lifestyle from unexpected loss.

Are you relying on city coverage for your country property?

10/02/2026

❓Did you know that black bears can sniff out possible food from well over a mile away?

That means you really have to be careful about making sure there’s nothing around your house that smells like an easy meal: you’re basically inviting them over for dinner!

So make sure your trash cans are secured,
your grill is cleaned (or, better yet, bring them inside the garage),
and there’s no pet food left out on your porch.

That goes for your car, too. Don’t go leaving your leftovers in the front seat, and maybe skip the pumpkin pie-scented car freshener.

Bears definitely aren’t going to shy away from breaking into a parked car if it means they can get a bite to eat.

And don’t forget: your car’s not safe from bears just because you’re driving!

No, they won’t break into a moving vehicle to steal food. But they might run out in front of your car while looking for their next meal.

An accident with a bear can easily cost you over $6000 in damage, and cause serious injury or worse to the bear. The last thing any of us wants is to needlessly harm an animal.

Speaking of protecting animals, it’s extra important to keep an eye on your pets when bears are around. An overly-excited dog barking at black bears may end up with some pretty expensive vet bills. So, don’t let them out unattended and be sure to keep them on a short leash when on walks.

But even if you follow all the rules, there’s really no guarantee you won’t have a bear encounter.

The bright side? If you have updated your home, auto, and vet insurance, you’ll be covered for any claw marks that yogi and his cronies leave behind.

Check the comments to review your insurance and protect what’s most important to you!

10/02/2026

Make your home less welcoming… for pests. Here's how even a few hours of effort can help deter unwanted visitors.

If your basement is damp, dirty, and cluttered, you probably don’t want to spend time down there, but rodents and insects find that environment wel...