Wildfires in California: 2018 list and cost of forest fires

There are several reasons behind this sad record: global warming that caused a rise in temperature, the preventive firefighting policy which proved to be insufficient, and the Santa Ana dry winds that blew at the end of the year.

California wildfires: the cost continues to rise

The annual firefighting budget for 2018 which has been allocated by the California Fire Agency amounts to 442.8 million USD. This amount has been fully exhausted during the third quarter of the year.

By the end of August, well before the outbreak of Camp Fire which is one of the most devastating fires in California's history, the total cost of fires had already reached a peak. Extinguishing the "Carr Fire" blaze had cost more than 25 million USD, while putting out "Ferguson" fires amounted to more than 64 million USD. Mendocino Complex alone broke records with a total cost of 257 million USD.

California: List of the six most destructive fires in 2018

* Classification according to date

California wildfires are putting a strain on insurers

As claims are getting more and more frequent, they become heavier to bear for California insurers who are incurring increasing losses every year.

As a result, some insurers have decided to refrain from underwriting fire insurance policies in states where fire risk is increased. Others have canceled policies or increased premiums in the most vulnerable areas.

According to A.M. Best, compensations worth 16 billion USD were paid in California in 2017, that is four times more than in 2016. This figure is likely to increase significantly in 2018.

In the third quarter of 2018, more than 10,000 claims for a total amount exceeding 845 million USD had already been filed by the "Mendocino Complex [6]" and "Carr" victims.

The final death toll for Camp Fire and Woolsey has not been drawn up yet. According to estimates of these claims, the 2018 bill could rise by 2 to 4 billion USD.