The 10 most costly fires in American history.. What about the Los Angeles fire? | economy

Los Angeles wildfires are expected to become among the costliest in American history, with losses exceeding $135 billion.

andIn a preliminary estimate, private weather forecasting company AccuWeather said it expects losses ranging between $135 billion and $150 billion as the fires spread in an area that includes some of the most expensive real estate in the United States, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

The insurance sector is also preparing for a major blow, as analysts from companies such as Morningstar and JPMorgan expect insured losses exceeding $8 billion.

Fire authorities say that more than 5,300 buildings were destroyed by the Palisades Fire, while the Eaton Fire destroyed more than 5,000 buildings.

Aon said the high value of the property in this case means it is likely to end up being one of the five most costly wildfires on its list, and losses will increase with the addition of uninsured property.

These fires come only 3 months after Hurricane Helen, which caused great devastation to most of the East Coast region, causing damage estimated at $78.7 billion, making it the seventh most expensive natural disaster in the United States. Hurricanes have historically been the most costly natural disasters in American history.

In 2024, 61,685 fires burned more than 8.85 million acres, equivalent to 143.49 acres damaged per fire, according to the annual fire report issued by the National Joint Fire Center.

In this report, Al Jazeera Net presents the 10 largest fires in terms of losses and material costs in the history of the United States, according to the National Fire Protection Association, noting that 9 of these fires occurred in the state of California in terms of the value of material losses, and we exclude from this classification the current Los Angeles fire.

The report also provides an overview of the 10 largest natural disasters in America, ranked from lowest to highest.

The 10 largest fires in terms of losses and material costs in American history

• 10- Southern California fire storm

• State:ca.
• Value of losses: 2.7 billion dollars.
• Number of destroyed buildings and facilities: 3108.
• Number of acres burned: 518 thousand.
• Number of deaths: 10.
• Fire history: October 2007.

• 9- CZU Lightning Complex fire

• State:ca.
• Value of losses: 3 billion dollars.
• Number of destroyed buildings and facilities: 1490.
• Number of acres burned: 86 thousand and 509 acres.
• Number of deaths: 1.
• Fire history: August 2020.

• 8- Thomas Fire

• State:ca.
• Value of losses: 3.18 billion dollars.
• Number of destroyed buildings and facilities: 1063.
• Number of acres burned: 281 thousand and 893.
• Number of deaths:2.
• Fire history: December 2017.

• 7- Glass Fire

• State:ca.
• Value of losses: 3.54 billion dollars.
• Number of destroyed buildings and facilities: 1555.
• Number of acres burned: 67 thousand and 484.
• Number of deaths: 0.
• Fire history: September 2020.

• 6- Atlas Fire

• State:ca.
• Value of losses: $3.81 billion.
• Number of destroyed buildings and facilities: 783.
• Number of acres burned: 51 thousand and 624.
• Number of deaths:6.
• Fire history: October 2017.

• 5- Tunnel fire/Oakland Hills

• State:ca.
• Value of losses: $3.9 billion.
• Number of destroyed buildings and facilities: 2900.
• Number of acres burned: 1600.
• Number of deaths: 25.
• Fire history: October 1991.

• 4- Woolsey Fire

• State:ca.
• Value of losses: 5.2 billion dollars.
• Number of destroyed buildings and facilities: 1643.
• Number of acres burned: 96 thousand and 949.
• Number of deaths:3.
• Fire history: November 2018.

• 3- Lahaina Fire

• State: Hawaii.
• Value of losses: 6.18 billion dollars.
• Number of destroyed buildings and facilities: 3 thousand.
• Number of acres burned: 2170.
• Number of deaths: 101.
• Fire history: August 2023.

• 2- Topps Fire

• State:ca.
• Value of losses: 11 billion dollars.
• Number of destroyed buildings and facilities: 5636.
• Number of acres burned: 36 thousand and 807.
• Number of deaths: 22.
• Fire history: October 2017.

• 1- Camp Fire

• State:ca.
• Value of losses: 12.4 billion dollars.
• Number of destroyed buildings and facilities: 18 thousand and 804.
• Number of acres burned: 153 thousand and 336.
• Number of deaths: 85.
• Fire history: November 2018.

The 10 costliest natural disasters in American history

The World Bank estimates that disasters caused by natural hazards annually cost the world $520 billion in economic losses, which is about 60% greater than the asset losses that are usually reported, according to the United Nations Trade and Development Organization (UNCTAD).

The World Meteorological Organization says that the total economic costs resulting from disasters related to weather, climate, and water amounted to $4.3 trillion over 51 years, between 1970 and 2021, and it also caused the death of more than two million people during the same period.

The United States alone incurred $1.7 trillion, representing 39% of global economic losses over 51 years, but least developed countries and small island developing states incurred disproportionately high costs compared to the size of the economy.AGet lost.

The 10 largest and most costly natural disasters in American history (excluding the California fires that are still burning), according to the US Kiplinger Platform, the National Center for Environmental Information, and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, are as follows:

• 10- Drought and heat wave (1988)

• Economic losses: 54.6 billion dollars.
• Number of direct deaths: 454 deaths.

The United States suffered from a drought in 1988 that struck a large part of the country, resulting in huge losses in the agricultural sector and related industries. The Upper Midwest was hardest hit, and 11 states officially declared all of their counties disaster areas.

Total direct and indirect deaths due to heat stress were estimated at 5,000, and the regional effects of drought continued until 1999.

• 9- Hurricane Andrew (1992)

• Economic losses: 60.5 billion dollars.
• Deaths: 61.

Hurricane Andrew was very powerful, one of only 4 Category 5 storms to hit the United States, with winds of 157 mph.

• 8- Hurricane Irma (2017)

• Economic losses: 64 billion dollars.
• Deaths:97.

Hurricane Irma first directed its wrath at two of the US Virgin Islands: St. John and St. Thomas. It also hit the Florida Keys hard, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, destroying 25% of buildings and 65% of them severely damaged.

Winds and storms caused damage along the coasts of Florida and South Carolina, with the city of Jacksonville witnessing its worst flooding in more than 200 years.

• 7- Hurricane Helen (2024)

• Economic losses: 78.7 billion dollars.
• Deaths: 219.

Helen made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida in September 2024, generating tsunami waves as high as 15 feet. However, the most damage occurred in an unexpected place: western North Carolina.

The city of Asheville and its surrounding areas were severely affected by massive flooding, with landslides, unprecedented rains and flooding devastating the area.

• 6- Hurricane Ida (2021)

• Economic losses: 84.6 billion dollars.
• Deaths:96.

According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, when Hurricane Ida hit Louisiana, it was one of only three hurricanes in recorded history to make landfall with winds of 150 miles per hour.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that severe damage to power infrastructure across south Louisiana caused widespread and long-lasting power outages for millions of people.

Flash floods in New Jersey and New York also caused damage to homes, businesses, vehicles and infrastructure, killing dozens.

• 5- Hurricane Sandy (2012)

• Economic losses: 88.5 billion dollars
• Deaths: 159.

Hurricane Sandy was no ordinary hurricane when it came ashore in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in October 2012. High winds aggravated the storm, bringing waves inland and submerging large areas of the northeastern coast of the United States.

The lower Manhattan area of ​​New York City was particularly affected, as the Brooklyn Battery tunnel was completely flooded.

The New York Stock Exchange was forced to close for two consecutive days, the first time this had happened since a blizzard in 1888.

• 4- Hurricane Maria (2017)

• Economic losses: 115.2 billion dollars.
• Deaths: 2981.

Maria was the last Category 4 storm to hit the United States in 2017, and will be remembered most for the damage it caused to the US island of Puerto Rico.

• 3- Hurricane Ian (2022)

• Economic losses: 119.6 billion dollars.
• Deaths: 152.

Hurricane Ian was one of the most powerful storms to hit the United States, with tsunami waves hitting the southwest coast of Florida, and the hurricane hitting the Cayo Coast of Florida, destroying barrier islands such as Sanibel, Pine, and Fort Myers Beach.

Rainfall exceeding 20 inches fell in some places, and the devastation was deadly. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, at least 149 people died from drowning.

• 2- Hurricane Harvey (2017)

• Economic losses: 160 billion dollars.
• Deaths: 89.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Hurricane Harvey in August 2017 was the most significant event in US history in terms of the extent and maximum amounts of rainfall.

60 inches of rain fell on Nederland, Texas, but high water levels were widespread, with more than 30 inches of rain falling on 6.9 million people.

• 1- Hurricane Katrina (2005)

• Economic losses: 201.3 billion dollars.
• Deaths:1833.

Hurricane Katrina will long be remembered for its enormous cost in lives and treasure, as well as for the immeasurable human suffering it brought to the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and especially the city of New Orleans.

Hurricane Katrina struck the northern Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm, and quickly weakened, but not before bringing with it huge waves that in some places exceeded 20 feet high, and overtook many levees and seawalls designed to protect low-lying areas.

About 80% of the city of New Orleans was flooded, to varying depths, within a day after the hurricane made landfall.