In “The Claman Countdown,” Hollywood screenwriter Mark Victor opens up about how the California wildfires have impacted his life.
Los Angeles is battling multiple wildfires which have ravaged homes and businesses as they rage across the Southern California city.
On Thursday, a J.P. Morgan report said that “expectations of economic losses from the wildfires have more than doubled since yesterday, to nearly $50 billion,” estimating that insured losses “could exceed $20 billion (and even more if the fires are not contained.” mastered)”.
This, in keeping with JPMorgan analysts, would make the ongoing wildfires in California “significantly more severe than the 2018 Butte County Camp fires, which were previously the largest insured losses in California history.”
Wildfires in California could cost insurers $20 billion, the most in the state’s history
As of Thursday evening, multiple fires had broken out in Los Angeles County, including three that were 0% contained, in keeping with CalFire’s website. At least five people lost their lives.
TOPSHOT – Plumes of smoke are seen following a brush fire in Pacific Palisades, California, Jan. 7, 2025. A quick-moving brush fire in a Los Angeles suburb burned buildings and prompted evacuations on Tuesday as “life-threatening” winds lashed the region (DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that greater than 7,500 firefighters and emergency employees were participating fighting flames.
Four of the five costliest wildfires the United States has seen occurred in California, According to data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Camp fire
PARADISE, CA – NOVEMBER 27: A classic automobile destroyed by a bonfire might be seen in the town of Paradise, California on Tuesday, November 27, 2018. Numerous questions of safety resulting from the fire, akin to downed power lines, road conditions, hazardous materials, ha (Anda Chu/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty Images)
The Camp Fire broke out on November 8, 2018 and raged for 17 years days in Northern California. Its flames caused $12.4 billion in inflation-adjusted losses, the NFPA said.
According to CalFire, the fire covered greater than 153,300 acres and destroyed 18,800 homes, buildings and industrial properties. He destroyed almost the entire town of Paradise.
About 52,000 people were evacuated during the camp fire.
During the madness, 85 people lost their lives. CalFire believes it was the deadliest wildfire the Golden State has experienced.
Tubbs Fire
CALISTOGA, CA – October 12: CalFire firefighters monitor shooting activity while battling the Tubbs Fire on October 12, 2017, near Calistoga, California. At least thirty-one people have died in the fires, which have burned tens of 1000’s of acres annually (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
According to the NFPA, the inflation-adjusted costs of the Tubbs Fire, which affected Napa and Sonoma counties in California in 2017, were nearly $11.05 billion.
The fire occurred as a part of the “October 2017 Fire Siege.” That’s when there have been over 170 fires in Northern California.
In 2019, CalFire reported that the Tubbs fire was “caused by a private electrical installation adjacent to a residential building.” 22 people died there.
CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES: WHAT TO KNOW WHEN SUBMITTING AN INSURANCE CLAIM
Lahaina Fire
An aerial photo shows burned cars and houses in a neighborhood devastated by a fireplace on August 18, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. At least 111 people have been killed and 1000’s displaced after a wind-sparked fire ravaged cities (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/Getty Images)
The fire in Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui occurred in August 2023. The death toll was 101.
“The cause of the fire was the re-energization of damaged power lines, which caused molten metallic materials (sparks) to be thrown onto the base of Pole 25, igniting unsupported vegetation below. Additionally, arc discharge and cutting of live wires
an overhead power line between poles 25 and 24 caused the line to fall to the ground,
then igniting the vegetation below,” said a report released by the Maui County Department of Fire and Public Safety. “The continuation of the fire through rekindling was caused by a hidden piece of smoldering material that entered a susceptible fuel pack in the ravine to the east and south of the existing burn area at an undetermined time in an undetermined manner.”
Initial inflation-adjusted losses from the fire were $6.18 billion, the NFPA said.
Woolsey Fire
MALIBU, CA – NOVEMBER 10: Los Angeles County firefighters attack flames approaching Salvation Army camps at Malibu Creek State Park during the Woolsey Fire on November 10, 2018 near Malibu, California. The Woolsey Fire has burned greater than 70,000 acres (David McNew/Getty Images)
According to the NFPA, the Woolsey Fire cost $5.2 billion after adjusting for inflation. CalFire reported that 2018 inferno blazes affected greater than 96,900 acres in California.
The National Park Service found that 88% of the land it manages inside the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area had been burned.
Tunnel Fire/Oakland Hills
According to the NFPA, inflation-adjusted losses of $3.893 billion resulted from a 2,900-acre tunnel fire in the Oakland Hills area of California in 1991.
BUSINESS LEADERS REACT TO CALIFORNIA FIRES: ‘Heartbreaking’
According to the East Bay Regional Park District, about 1,500 Northern California firefighters were involved in fighting the blaze at its worst.
How many wildfires does the United States take care of every year?
The United States deals with tens of 1000’s of wildfires yearly. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, there can be almost 56,600 such cases in 2023. Last 12 months there have been almost 69 thousand of them.
Eric Revell contributed to this report.
