Since its inception, home insurance as a concept and practice has evolved from the basis of one central focus: the threat of house fires. With stoves, ironing boards, drying machines, electrical wires and a whole host of other would-be hazards SA国际影视传媒� all confined to a space covered with combustible materials SA国际影视传媒� it's no surprise fire coverage comes part and parcel with home insurance.

That's why in Canada, whether you're splurging on a pricey home insurance premium package or being frugal by buying a basic plan, damage caused by fire is still covered across the board.

Even in insurance packages that include caveats or exclusions, damage caused by fire is still covered.

If your plan doesn't cover tornadoes, chances are it covers fires caused by tornadoes.

That sounds like a pretty good deal for even the stingiest of homeowners looking to safeguard their residence from fires with home insurance.

But what about the many people across the country and in Yellowknife who don't own a home?

Less than half of all renters in Canada have tenant or renter's insurance, according to a recent report from Statistics Canada.

Almost all homeowners, on the other hand, insure their homes.

The building those tenants live in is insured SA国际影视传媒� their units and their belongs are not.

That means many renters are living without coverage for the contents of their apartment and their rental unit. For many low-income renters, coverage is too expensive SA国际影视传媒� a non-essential expense when food and power is paramount.

The disparity between insured homeowners and uninsured renters SA国际影视传媒� and the vulnerability opened up by the lack of coverage SA国际影视传媒� was starkly illustrated last week, when a devastating early morning fire Tuesday destroyed Rockhill Apartments, a residential building that offered transitional housing through the NWT YWCA. All of the building's residents SA国际影视传媒� over 80 people making up 33 families SA国际影视传媒� were left homeless.

SA国际影视传媒淧eople have lost everything and they likely don't have tenant's insurance. But, through community donations we'll provide ... some basic possessions,SA国际影视传媒� Lyda Fuller, NWT YWCA executive director, said in the hours following Tuesday's blaze.

Through fundraising efforts and the work of community agencies, all displaced families were re-housed within the next day.

Many of the uprooted families found new homes in Northview Apartments REIT-owned units that had been reserved by the GNWT and the YWCA.

Judith, a financial advisor at Yellowknife Co-operators Insurance,  said recent fires SA国际影视传媒� even before Tuesday's tragic blaze SA国际影视传媒� have prompted apartment building owners to push for mandatory tenant insurance.

SA国际影视传媒淏ecause of the fires that have been happening in Yellowknife of late, most landlords are encouraging tenants to get renter's insurance SA国际影视传媒� which is not expensive,SA国际影视传媒� said Judith.

Following last week's Rockhill Apartments blaze, many displaced residents found new homes in Northview Apartments REIT-owned units. Post-fire, the company took to Twitter stress the importance of tenant's insurance.

SA国际影视传媒淪tories like these are the reason why we include insurance on all new leases,SA国际影视传媒� tweeted the Northview Apartments account.

Judith isn't sure why more apartment dwellers aren't opting for renter's insurance. She said it's cheap SA国际影视传媒� starting at $25 a month for a $25,000 minimum SA国际影视传媒� and it pays off in the long run.

SA国际影视传媒淭here's no need for anyone out there to live without contents coverage,SA国际影视传媒� said Judith.

By cutting back on non-essential expenses, Judith said renters can afford monthly payments SA国际影视传媒� which go towards something more than just contents coverage.

Renter's insurance can cover fires, floods and other emergencies, while also providing liability coverage in the event someone injures themselves in your apartment, or a leaky pipe in your place impacts neighbouring units.

If you're insured and your house is destroyed by a fire, Judith said policy holders are given money to stay at a hotel until a new residence is secured.

Judith said if everyone in the city was educated and informed about tenant's insurance and its importance, most would get it.

The City of Yellowknife doesn't currently regulate tenant's insurance.