Bloomington-based State Farm Insurance is the newest investor in Emberpoint, a wildfire intelligence company formed just this year.
In a news release, Emberpoint said the company "develops technology designed to give fire agencies decision-ready intelligence during the critical first hours of a wildfire."
With this announcement, State Farm joins other well-known companies such as Lockheed Martin, Pacific Gas and Electric [PG&E] corporation, Salesforce and Wells Fargo as investors in Emberpoint, which refers to the group as "a cross-industry coalition."
Emberpoint's news release stated the State Farm investment will "help advance the Emberpoint technology to aid firefighters and emergency responders with actionable intelligence that aims to accelerate resource deployment when wildfire threatens homes and neighborhoods."
Wildfires have posed a particular challenge for the insurer. In 2023, it stopped offering homeowner insurance to new customers in California, citing wildfires as a growing business risk. In 2025, after Los Angeles's Eaton and Palisades wildfires, State Farm filed for an emergency rate increase of 22% for California homeowners who still had policies with the company. The state launched an investigation in 2025, and Los Angeles County later sued State Farm over its handling of insurance claims in these fires. State Farm has denied allegations relating to delays, underpayments and denials of wildfire claims.
In a statement to WGLT, a State Farm representative said, "As the nation's largest auto and home insurer, State Farm serves millions of customers across the country who face a wide range of risks. We see firsthand the impact natural disasters have on homeowners and communities. At the end of the day, our focus is on helping protect people and the places they call home."
In general, insurers manage risk in two ways: prevention, or trying to stop a loss from happening in the first place, and mitigation, or reducing the impact when a loss occurs. State Farm said its stake in Emberpoint is an investment in "solutions that can help protect homes and communities before disasters strike."
"Through Emberpoint, we're working alongside companies from different industries to advance technology designed to give first responders better information during the critical early hours of a wildfire, helping them make faster, more informed decisions," State Farm's statement said.
Emberpoint's news release quoted the National Interagency Fire Center, which said in 2025 more than 77,000 wildfires "burned across the U.S., destroying more than 18,000 structures, including nearly 13,000 homes. Wildfire has become a national operational challenge spanning states and various agencies and first responders. Enabling a new level of coordination is critical to protecting communities."
A group of U.S. lawmakers are also seeking to form a collaborative body to gather wildfire intelligence. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Alex Padilla of California, is being considered by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.
While State Farm's home of Bloomington is not as likely to face wildfires as other parts of the nation, State Farm's statement said "drought and dry conditions can increase fire risk, even in areas not typically associated with wildfires. It's a reminder that communities across the country face evolving risks and that preparing for potential disasters is increasingly important."
