Safeco Plans to Fire 10% of Work Force

Seattle property-casualty insurer Safeco Corp. said it plans to fire 1,200 employees, or 10% of its work force, as part of an overhaul of its auto and home insurance unit.

Among those to be dismissed are 25 of its 420 employees in the Fountain Valley regional headquarters, said company spokeswoman Amy Mitchell. The company also is consolidating field operations into Fountain Valley and four other regional headquarters nationwide.