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Wildfires

How Los Angeles wildfire damage compares to worst blazes

ByDigital Insurance Staff
January 21, 2025 12:00 PM
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While the true aftermath of the Los Angeles wildfires will take time to measure, the initial cost of the damage already surpasses other costly and highly damaging wildfires, making it the worst in U.S. history. 

The LA wildfires already have an estimated $135-$150 billion dollar loss, with an estimated 12,000 structures destroyed and 38,690 acres burned.

Read more: Wildfires leave California insurance market on edge of collapse 

Before this wildfire outbreak, the fire with the largest dollar loss was the November 2018 Camp Fire in California, at $10 billion, which is adjusted to $12.4 billion in 2024, with 153,336 acres burned and 18,804 structures destroyed.

Read more about how the damage of the LA wildfires compares to the worst fires in U.S. history.

Sources: NFPA, AccuWeather, BBC, CBS News, CA.gov

U.S. Wildfires ranked by damage costs

Year Month State Name Dollar
loss
2025 January California LA Wildfires $135 billion-$150 billion
(estimate)
2018 November California Camp Fire $10,000,000,000
2017 October California Tubbs Fire $8,700,000,000
2023 August Hawaii Lahaina $6,000,000,000
2018 November California Woolsey Fire $4,200,000,000
1991 October California Tunnel/Oakland Hills $1,700,000,000
2017
 October California Atlas Fire $3,000,000,000
2020 September California Glass Fire $2,950,000,000
2017 December California Thomas $2,500,000,000
2020 August California CZU Lightning Complex Fire $2,500,000,000
2007 October California The Southern California Firestorm $1,800,000,000
2020 August California LNU Lightning Complex Fire $2,250,000,000
2017 December California California Fire Siege $1,800,000,000
2015 September California Valley Fire $1,500,000,000
2003 October California Cedar $1,100,000,000
2000 May New Mexico Cerro Grande Wildland Fire $1,000,000,000
2003 October California Old $975,000,000
2016 November Tennessee Chimney Tops 2 Fire $911,000,000
1993 October California Laguna Beach Fire $528,000,000
2018 July California Carr Fire $892,553,941

Chart showing wildfires with the most costly damage, where the Carr Fire had $892,553,941 in dollar loss.
The Carr Fire in July 2018 had $892,553,941 in dollar loss.
Chart showing wildfires with the most costly damage, where the Laguna Beach Fire had $528,000,000 in dollar loss.
Laguna Beach Fire in October 1993 had $528,000,000 in dollar loss.
Chart showing the most costly wildfires in US history, where the Chimney Tops 2 Fire had $911,000,000 in dollar loss.
Chimney Tops 2 Fire in November 2016 had $911,000,000 in dollar loss.
Chart showing the most costly wildfires in US history, where the Old Fire had $975,000,000 in dollar loss.
Old Fire in October 2003 had $975,000,000 in dollar loss.
Chart showing the most costly wildfires in US history, where the Cerro Grande Wildland Fire had $1,000,000,000 in dollar loss.
Cerro Grande Wildland Fire in May 2000 had $1,000,000,000 in dollar loss.
Chart showing the most costly wildfires in US history, where the Cedar Fire had $1,100,000,000 in dollar loss.
Cedar Fire in October 2003 had $1,100,000,000 in dollar loss.
Chart showing the most costly wildfires in US history, where the Valley Fire had $1,500,000,000 in dollar loss.
Valley Fire in September 2015 had $1,500,000,000 in dollar loss.
Chart showing the most costly wildfires in US history, where the California Fire Siege had $1,800,000,000 in dollar loss.
California Fire Siege in December 2017 had $1,800,000,000 in dollar loss.
Chart showing the most costly wildfires in US history, where the LNU Lightning Complex Fire had $2,250,000,000 in dollar loss.
LNU Lightning Complex Fire in August 2020 had $2,250,000,000 in dollar loss.
Chart showing the most costly wildfires in US history, where the The Southern California Firestorm had $1,800,000,000 in dollar loss.
The Southern California Firestorm in October 2007 had $1,800,000,000 in dollar loss.
Chart showing the most costly wildfires in US history, where the CZU Lightning Complex Fire had $2,500,000,000 in dollar loss.
CZU Lightning Complex Fire in August 2020 had $2,500,000,000 in dollar loss.
Chart showing the most costly wildfires in US history, where the Thomas Fire had $2,500,000,000 in dollar loss.
Thomas Fire in December 2017 had $2,500,000,000 in dollar loss.
Chart showing the most costly wildfires in US history, where the Glass Fire had $2,950,000,000 in dollar loss.
Glass Fire in September 2020 had $2,950,000,000 in dollar loss.
Chart showing the most costly wildfires in US history, where the Atlas Fire had $3,000,000,000 in dollar loss.
Atlas Fire in October 2017 had $3,000,000,000 in dollar loss.
Chart showing the most costly wildfires in US history, where the Tunnel/Oakland Hills Fire had $1,700,000,000 in dollar loss.
Tunnel/Oakland Hills Fire in October 1991 had $1,700,000,000 in dollar loss.
Chart showing the most costly wildfires in US history, where the Woolsey Fire had $4,200,000,000 in dollar loss.
Woolsey Fire in November 2018 had a dollar loss of $4,200,000,000.
Chart showing the most costly wildfires in US history, where the Lahaina Fire had $6,000,000,000 in dollar loss.
Lahaina Fire in August 2023 had $6,000,000,000 in dollar loss.
Chart showing the most costly wildfires in US history, where the Tubbs Fire had $8,700,000,000 in dollar loss.
Tubbs Fire in October 2017 had $8,700,000,000 in dollar loss.
Chart showing the most costly wildfires in US history, where the Camp Fire had $8,700,000,000 in dollar loss.
Camp Fire in November 2018 had $10,000,000,000 in dollar loss.
Chart showing the most costly wildfires in US history, where the LA Wildfires has an estimated $135 billion-$150 billion in dollar loss.
LA Wildfires in January 2025 has an estimated $135 billion-$150 billion in dollar loss.
Digital Insurance Staff
Wildfires Natural disasters Insurance