Chubb Establishes the Nation's Largest Private Wildfire Protection Network

Fire-Blocking Gel to Be Sprayed on Threatened Homes in 13 States WARREN, NJ, March 18, 2008 - The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies has established the nation's largest private wildfire protection network in time for the start of this year's wildfire season. Chubb will help protect customers' homes in 13 states through a network of highly trained, certified wildfire fighters and a highly effective fire-blocking gel. To provide this service to Chubb's homeowners customers, the insurer has entered into an agreement with Wildfire Defense Systems, Inc., a Montana-based firm operating under a federal contract for wildfire suppression in the Western United States. The service will be available in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. The trucks will carry Thermo-Gel® 200L, a Forest Service-approved, environmentally friendly gel produced by Thermo Technologies, LLC, of Bismarck, ND. "Our customers now can have the peace of mind knowing that they can be protected by the very same people and equipment that fight forest fires for the government and by the very best retardant available," said Scott Spencer, senior vice president, Chubb & Son, and worldwide loss prevention manager, Chubb Personal Insurance. All Chubb homeowners customers in the affected states are being mailed enrollment forms. There is no charge to sign up for or to use this service. "We encourage all our customers to enroll now. As wildfires approach, it will become increasingly difficult for them to locate and contact other available fire mitigation resources," said Spencer. "In addition, the customers who use the service will have no out-of-pocket expenses." Those customers who do not enroll can be reimbursed up to $5,000 for other services they retain to help protect their homes when a wildfire is within three miles of their homes or a civil authority initiates an evacuation order as a result of an approaching wildfire. The member insurers of the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies form a multi-billion dollar organization providing property and casualty insurance for personal and commercial customers worldwide through 8,500 independent agents and brokers. Chubb's global network includes branches and affiliates throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Australia.