Deadly Fires Costlier Than First Calculated

Sacramento, CA — Property damage amounts in the deadly Northern California wildfires earlier this month have tripled from the initial billion dollar estimate.

California’s insurance commissioner now indicates that the costs have exceeded $3.3 billion. Commissioner Dave Jones shared Tuesday that the figure represents claims for homes and businesses insured by 15 major insurers. The amount is significantly higher than Jones’ preliminary $1 billion estimate.

Forty-three people were killed in the series of October blazes that ripped through California’s wine country. The flames destroyed at least 8,900 buildings and more than 100,000 people were forced from their homes as whole towns and neighborhoods were evacuated. The series of fires are the deadliest in California history. Included in that estimate is several dozen buildings also damaged or destroyed in an Orange County blaze that was also ignited during the same time.