Please do a search for insurance, insurance providers and Clowns of the US (COTUS) here on HoP. There you will find more info than you can dream.
As for COTUS, NAFAA and many individual artists actually are the ones who worked with them. They doubled their price, it is not really known if the coverage they offer is legally acceptable here in the US and they halved their coverage. But it had *nothing* to do with the Great White fire. It had everything to do with a provider (they are a brokerage) finding out what we do and pulling their provisions. COTUS then scoured the globe looking for anyone to work with them. After the Great White fire they didn't amend anything.
Also, many of the regulations I have come across that have been enacted are for pyrotechnicians, and did not apply to open flame policies. If you are getting people stating that you have to do this or that because of this law or that one, do your research and find out under which it is applicable. Many fire dept's do not understand what it is that we do, at all, and so we get lumped unfairly with anyone else who uses fire.
Also, in fine print, many of the laws regarding insurance states that the venue must have it, or the pyrotechnicians, and that they must meet a combined minimum. Therefore, COTUS does apply heavily.
I do not agree with what COTUS is doing. I do not like dealing with them. I question much about their practices and services, but if you can not find any other option (like several of us have) then they are quite literally the only way to go.
Hmmmm...doesn't anyone on here have the desire to become an insurance broker?
Anyway, do a search please.
Thanks!