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Top 10 Costliest Wildland Fires In The United States (1)
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($ millions)

      Estimated insured loss
Rank Year Name Dollars when occurred In 2022 dollars (2)
1 2018 Camp Fire $10,000 $11,836
2 2017 Tubbs Fire 8,700 10,522
3 2018 Woolsey Fire 4,200 4,971
4 1991 Oakland Fire (Tunnel) 1,700 3,691
5 2017 Atlas Fire 3,000 3,628
6 2020 Glass Fire 2,950 3,381
7 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire 2,500 2,865
8 2017 Thomas Fire 2,250 2,723
9 2021 Marshall Fire 2,500 2,675
10 2020 LNU Lightning Complex Fire 2,250 2,579

(1) Includes losses sustained by private insurers and government-sponsored programs such as the National Flood Insurance Program.  Includes events that occurred through 2022. All fires on this list occurred in California except Marshall Fire was in Colorado.
Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Ranked on losses in 2022 dollars. Subject to change as loss estimates are further developed. As of January 2023.
(2) Adjusted for inflation by Aon using the U.S. Consumer Price Index.

Source: Aon.

 

Archived Tables

THE TEN MOST COSTLY WILDLAND FIRES IN THE UNITED STATES (1)
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($ millions)

      Estimated insured loss  
Rank Date Location Dollars when occurred In 2008 dollars (2)
1 Oct. 20-21, 1991 Oakland Fire, CA $1,700 $2,687
2 Oct. 21-24, 2007 Witch Fire, CA 1,300 1,350
3 Oct. 25-Nov. 4, 2003 Cedar Fire, CA 1,060 1,240
4 Oct. 25-Nov. 3, 2003 Old Fire, CA 975 1,141
5 Nov. 2-3, 1993 Los Angeles County Fire, CA 375 559
6 Oct. 27-28, 1993 Orange County Fire, CA 350 521
7 Jun. 27-Jul. 2, 1990 Santa Barbara Fire, CA 265 437
8 May 10-16, 2000 Cerro Grande Fire, NM 140 175
9 Jun. 23-28, 2002 Rodeo Chediski Complex Fire, AZ 120 144
10 Sep. 22-30, 1970 Oakland and Berkeley Hills Fire, CA 25 138

(1) Property coverage only for catastrophic fires. Effective January 1, 1997, Property Claim Services unit (PCS) defines catastrophes as events that cause more than $25 million in insured property damage and that affect a significant number of insureds and insurers. From 1982 to 1996, PCS used a $5 million threshold in defining catastrophes. Before 1982, PCS used a $1 million threshold.
(2) Adjusted to 2008 dollars by the Insurance Information Institute.

Source: ISO's Property Claim Services unit (PCS); Insurance Information Institute.

 
THE TEN MOST COSTLY WILDLAND FIRES IN THE UNITED STATES (1)
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($ millions)

      Estimated insured loss 
Rank Date Location Dollars when
occurred		 In 2010
dollars (2)
1 Oct. 20-21, 1991 Oakland Fire, CA $1,700 $2,516
2 Oct. 21-24, 2007 Witch Fire, CA 1,300 1,353
3 Oct. 25-Nov. 4, 2003 Cedar Fire, CA 1,060 1,247
4 Oct. 25-Nov. 3, 2003 Old Fire, CA 975 1,147
5 Nov. 2-3, 1993 Los Angeles County Fire, CA 375 530
6 Oct. 27-28, 1993 Orange County Fire, CA 350 495
7 Jun. 27-Jul. 2, 1990 Santa Barbara Fire, CA 265 406
8 Sep. 6-13, 2010 Fourmile Canyon Fire, CO 210 210
9 May 10-16, 2000 Cerro Grande Fire, NM 140 175
10 Jun. 23-28, 2002 Rodeo Chediski Complex Fire, AZ 120 144

(1) Property coverage only for catastrophic fires. Effective January 1, 1997, Property Claim Services (PCS) unit defines catastrophes as events that cause more than $25 million in insured property damage and that affect a significant number of insureds and insurers. From 1982 to 1996, PCS used a $5 million threshold in defining catastrophes.
(2) Adjusted for inflation through 2010 by ISO using the GDP implicit price deflator.

Source: The Property Claim Services (PCS) unit of ISO, a Verisk Analytics company.

 
THE TEN MOST COSTLY WILDLAND FIRES IN THE UNITED STATES (1)
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($ millions)

      Estimated insured loss
Rank Date Location Dollars when occurred In 2011 dollars (2)
1 Oct. 20-21, 1991 Oakland Fire, CA $1,700 $2,576
2 Oct. 21-24, 2007 Witch Fire, CA 1,300 1,387
3 Oct. 25-Nov. 4, 2003 Cedar Fire, CA 1,060 1,276
4 Oct. 25-Nov. 3, 2003 Old Fire, CA 975 1,174
5 Nov. 2-3, 1993 Los Angeles County Fire, CA 375 543
6 Sep. 4-9, 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire, TX 530 530
7 Oct. 27-28, 1993 Orange County Fire, CA 350 507
8 Jun. 27-Jul. 2, 1990 Santa Barbara Fire, CA 265 416
9 Sep. 6-13, 2010 Fourmile Canyon Fire, CO 210 214
10 May 10-16, 2000 Cerro Grande Fire, NM 140 179

(1) Property coverage only for catastrophic fires. Effective January 1, 1997, ISO's Property Claim Services (PCS) unit defines catastrophes as events that cause more than $25 million in insured property damage and that affect a significant number of insureds and insurers. From 1982 to 1996, PCS used a $5 million threshold in defining catastrophes. Before 1982, PCS used a $1 million threshold.
(2) Adjusted for inflation through 2011 by ISO using the GDP implicit price deflator.

Source: The Property Claim Services (PCS) unit of ISO, a Verisk Analytics company.

 
THE TEN MOST COSTLY WILDLAND FIRES IN THE UNITED STATES (1)
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($ millions)

      Estimated insured loss
Rank Date Location Dollars when occurred In 2013 dollars (2)
1 Oct. 20-21, 1991 Oakland Fire, CA $1,700 $2,623
2 Oct. 21-24, 2007 Witch Fire, CA 1,300 1,424
3 Oct. 25-Nov. 4, 2003 Cedar Fire, CA 1,060 1,302
4 Oct. 25-Nov. 3, 2003 Old Fire, CA 975 1,198
5 Nov. 2-3, 1993 Los Angeles County Fire, CA 375 553
6 Sep. 4-9, 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire, TX 530 547
7 Oct. 27-28, 1993 Orange County Fire, CA 350 516
8 Jun. 24-28, 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire, CO 450 457
9 Jun. 27-Jul. 2, 1990 Santa Barbara Fire, CA 265 423
10 Jun. 11-16, 2013 Black Forest Fire, CO 385 385

(1) Property coverage only for catastrophic fires. Effective January 1, 1997, ISO's Property Claim Services (PCS) unit defines catastrophes as events that cause more than $25 million in insured property damage and that affect a significant number of insureds and insurers. From 1982 to 1996, PCS used a $5 million threshold in defining catastrophes. Before 1982, PCS used a $1 million threshold.
(2) Adjusted for inflation through 2013 by ISO using the GDP implicit price deflator.

Source: The Property Claim Services® (PCS®) unit of ISO®, a Verisk Analytics® company.

 
TOP 10 MOST COSTLY WILDLAND FIRES IN THE UNITED STATES (1)
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($ millions)

      Estimated insured loss
Rank Date Location Dollars when
occurred		 In 2014
dollars (2)
1 Oct. 20-21, 1991 Oakland Fire, CA $1,700 $2,668
2 Oct. 21-24, 2007 Witch Fire, CA 1,300 1,446
3 Oct. 25-Nov. 4, 2003 Cedar Fire, CA 1,060 1,323
4 Oct. 25-Nov. 3, 2003 Old Fire, CA 975 1,217
5 Nov. 2-3, 1993 Los Angeles County Fire, CA 375 562
6 Sep. 4-9, 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire, TX 530 556
7 Oct. 27-28, 1993 Orange County Fire, CA 350 525
8 Jun. 24-28, 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire, CO 450 463
9 Jun. 27-Jul. 2, 1990 Santa Barbara Fire, CA 265 430
10 Jun. 11-16, 2013 Black Forest Fire, CO 385 391

(1) Property coverage only for catastrophic fires. Effective January 1, 1997, Property Claim Services (PCS®), a Verisk Analytics® business, defines catastrophes as events that cause more than $25 million in insured property damage and that affect a significant number of insureds and insurers. From 1982 to 1996, PCS used a $5 million threshold in defining catastrophes. Before 1982, PCS used a $1 million threshold.
(2) Adjusted for inflation through 2014 by ISO using the GDP implicit price deflator.

Source: Property Claim Services (PCS®), a Verisk Analytics® business.

 
Top 10 Costliest Wildland Fires In The United States (1)
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($ millions)

      Estimated insured loss
Rank Date Name, Location Dollars when occurred In 2015 dollars (2)
1 Oct. 20-21, 1991 Oakland Hills Fire, CA $1,700 $2,705
2 Oct. 21-24, 2007 Witch Fire, CA 1,300 1,466
3 Oct. 25-Nov. 4, 2003 Cedar Fire, CA 1,060 1,342
4 Oct. 25-Nov. 3, 2003 Old Fire, CA 975 1,234
5 Sep. 12-14, 2015 Valley Fire, CA 921 921
6 Nov. 2-3, 1993 Topanga Fire, CA 375 570
7 Sep. 4-9, 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire, TX 530 563
8 Oct. 27-28, 1993 Laguna Canyon Fire, CA 350 532
9 Jun. 24-28, 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire, CO 450 470
10 Jun. 27-Jul. 2, 1990 Painted Cave Fire, CA 265 436

(1) Property coverage only for catastrophic fires. Effective January 1, 1997, ISO's Property Claim Services (PCS) unit defines catastrophes as events that cause more than $25 million in insured property damage and that affect a significant number of insureds and insurers. From 1982 to 1996, PCS used a $5 million threshold in defining catastrophes. Before 1982, PCS used a $1 million threshold.
(2) Adjusted for inflation through 2015 by ISO using the GDP implicit price deflator.

Source: Property Claim Services (PCS®), a Verisk Analytics® business.

 
Top 10 Costliest Wildland Fires In The United States (1)
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($ millions)

      Estimated insured loss  
Rank Date Name, Location Dollars when occurred In 2016 dollars (2)
1 Oct. 20-21, 1991 Oakland Hills Fire, CA $1,700 $2,746
2 Oct. 21-24, 2007 Witch Fire, CA 1,300 1,488
3 Oct. 25-Nov. 4, 2003 Cedar Fire, CA 1,060 1,362
4 Oct. 25-Nov. 3, 2003 Old Fire, CA 975 1,253
5 Nov. 28-30, 2016 Great Smoky Mountains Fire, TN 938 938
6 Sep. 12-14, 2015 Valley Fire, CA 921 933
7 Nov. 2-3, 1993 Topanga Fire, CA 375 578
8 Sep. 4-9, 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire, TX 530 572
9 Oct. 27-28, 1993 Laguna Canyon Fire, CA 350 540
10 Jun. 24-28, 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire, CO 450 477

(1) Property coverage only for catastrophic fires. Effective January 1, 1997, ISO's Property Claim Services (PCS) unit defines catastrophes as events that cause more than $25 million in insured property damage and that affect a significant number of insureds and insurers. From 1982 to 1996, PCS used a $5 million threshold in defining catastrophes. Before 1982, PCS used a $1 million threshold. Does not include wildfires in 2017.
(2) Adjusted for inflation through 2016 by ISO using the GDP implicit price deflator.

Source: The Property Claim Services® (PCS®) unit of ISO®, a Verisk Analytics® company

 
Top 10 Costliest Wildland Fires In The United States (1)
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($ millions)

      Estimated insured loss
Rank Date Name, Location Dollars when occurred In 2017 dollars (2)
1 Nov. 8-25, 2018 Camp Fire, CA (3) (3)
2 Oct. 8-20, 2017 Tubbs Fire, CA (3) (3)
3 Nov. 8-22, 2018 Woolsey Fire, Ca (3) (3)
4 Oct. 8-20, 2017 Atlas Fire, CA (3) (3)
5 Dec 4 - 23, 2017 Thomas Fire, CA (3) (3)
6 Oct. 20-21, 1991 Oakland Hills Fire, CA $1,700 $2,788
7 Oct. 21-24, 2007 Witch Fire, CA 1,300 1,517
8 Jul. 23-Aug. 30, 2018 Carr Fire, CA (3) (3)
9 Oct. 25-Nov. 4, 2003 Cedar Fire, CA 1,060 1,386
10 Oct. 25-Nov. 3, 2003 Old Fire, CA 975 1,275

(1) Property coverage only for catastrophic fires. Effective January 1, 1997, ISO's Property Claim Services (PCS) unit defines catastrophes as events that cause more than $25 million in insured property damage and that affect a significant number of insureds and insurers. From 1982 to 1996, PCS used a $5 million threshold in defining catastrophes. Before 1982, PCS used a $1 million threshold. As of December 11, 2018.
(2) Adjusted for inflation through 2017 by the Insurance Information Institute using the GDP implicit price deflator.
(3) Loss estimate not yet available from PCS, but a relative ranking is provided.

Source: The Property Claim Services® (PCS®) unit of ISO®, a Verisk Analytics® company, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

 
Top 10 Costliest Wildland Fires In The United States (1)
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($ millions)

      Estimated insured loss
Rank Date Name, Location Dollars when occurred In 2018 dollars (2)
1 Nov. 8-25, 2018 Camp Fire, CA (3) $8,500 - $10,500 $8,500 - $10,500
2 Oct. 8-20, 2017 Tubbs Fire, CA (3) 7,500 - 9,500 7,700 - 9,700
3 Nov. 8-22, 2018 Woolsey Fire, CA (3) 3,000 - 5,000 3,000 - 5,000
4 Oct. 8-20, 2017 Atlas Fire, CA (3) 2,500 - 4,500 2,600 - 4,600
5 Dec. 4-23, 2017 Thomas Fire, CA (3) 1,500 - 3,500 1,530 - 3,600
6 Oct. 20-21, 1991 Oakland Hills Fire, CA 1,700 2,851
7 Oct. 21-24, 2007 Witch Fire, CA 1,300 1,552
8 Jul. 23-Aug. 30, 2018 Carr Fire, CA (3) 1,000 - 1,500 1,000 - 1,500
9 Oct. 25-Nov. 4, 2003 Cedar Fire, CA 1,060 1,417
10 Oct. 25-Nov. 3, 2003 Old Fire, CA 975 1,304

(1) Property losses only for catastrophic fires. Effective January 1, 1997, ISO's Property Claim Services (PCS) unit defines catastrophes as events that cause more than $25 million in insured property damage and that affect a significant number of insureds and insurers. From 1982 to 1996, PCS used a $5 million threshold in defining catastrophes. Ranked on dollars when occurred. As of August 8, 2019.
(2) Adjusted for inflation through 2018 by the Insurance Information Institute using the GDP implicit price deflator.
(3) Insurance Information Institute estimate based on data from catastrophe risk modelers, reinsurance companies, the California Department of Insurance, and the Property Claims Services unit of Verisk Analytics. These estimates are preliminary because the organizations involved periodically resurvey the events, and the severity of losses and other factors create a high level of uncertainty surrounding the ultimate loss figures.

Source: Insurance Information Institute, catastrophe risk modelers, reinsurance companies, the California Department of Insurance, the Property Claim Services® (PCS®) unit of ISO®, a Verisk Analytics® company, and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

 
Top 10 Costliest Wildland Fires In The United States (1)
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($ millions)

      Estimated insured loss
Rank Date Name, Location Dollars when occurred In 2018 dollars (2)
1 Nov. 8-25, 2018 Camp Fire, CA (3) $8,500-$10,500 $8,500-$10,500
2 Oct. 8-20, 2017 Tubbs Fire, CA (3) 7,500-9,700 7,700-9,900
3 Nov. 8-22, 2018 Woolsey Fire, CA (3) 3,000-5,000 3,000-5,000
4 Oct. 8-20, 2017 Atlas Fire, CA (3) 2,500-4,500 2,600-4,600
5 Dec 4-23, 2017 Thomas Fire, CA (3) 1,500-3,500 1,530-3,600
6 Oct. 20-21, 1991 Oakland Hills Fire, CA 1,700 2,851
7 Oct. 21-24, 2007 Witch Fire, CA 1,300 1,552
8 Jul. 23-Aug. 30, 2018 Carr Fire, CA (3) 1,000-1,500 1,000-1,500
9 Oct. 25-Nov. 4, 2003 Cedar Fire, CA 1,060 1,417
10 Oct. 25-Nov. 3, 2003 Old Fire, CA 975 1,304

(1) Property losses only for catastrophic fires. Effective January 1, 1997, ISO's Property Claim Services (PCS) unit defines catastrophes as events that cause more than $25 million in insured property damage and that affect a significant number of insureds and insurers. From 1982 to 1996, PCS used a $5 million threshold in defining catastrophes. Ranked on dollars when occurred. As of November 20, 2019.
(2) Adjusted for inflation through 2018 by the Insurance Information Institute using the GDP implicit price deflator.
(3) Insurance Information Institute estimate based on data from catastrophe risk modelers, reinsurance companies, the California Deparment of Insurance, and the Property Claims Services unit of Verisk Analytics. These estimates are preliminary because the organizations involved periodically resurvey the events, and the severity of losses and other factors create a high level of uncertainty surrounding the ultimate loss figures.

Source: Insurance Information Institute, catastrophe risk modelers, reinsurance companies, the California Department of Insurance, the Property Claim Services® (PCS®) unit of ISO®, a Verisk Analytics® company, and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

 
Top 10 Costliest Wildland Fires In The United States (1)
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($ millions)

      Estimated insured loss
Rank Year Name Dollars when occurred In 2020 dollars (2)
1 2018 Camp Fire $10,000 $10,380
2 2017 Tubbs Fire 8,700 9,230
3 2018 Woolsey Fire 4,200 4,360
4 1991 Oakland Fire (Tunnel) 1,700 3,240
5 2017 Atlas Fire 3,000 3,180
6 2020 Glass Fire 2,900 2,900
7 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire 2,430 2,430
8 2017 Thomas Fire 2,250 2,390
9 2007 Witch Fire 1,600 2,000
10 2020 LNU Lightning Complex Fire 1,980 1,980

(1) Includes losses sustained by private insurers and government-sponsored programs such as the National Flood Insurance Program. Includes events that occurred through 2020. All fires on this list occurred in California. Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Ranked on losses in 2020 dollars. Subject to change as loss estimates are further developed. As of February 23, 2021.
(2) Adjusted for inflation by Aon using the U.S. Consumer Price Index.

Source: Aon.

 
Top 10 Costliest Wildland Fires In The United States (1)
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($ millions)

      Estimated insured loss
Rank Year Name Dollars when occurred In 2021 dollars (2)
1 2018 Camp Fire $10,000 $10,750
2 2017 Tubbs Fire 8,700 9,560
3 2018 Woolsey Fire 4,200 4,520
4 1991 Oakland Fire (Tunnel) 1,700 3,350
5 2017 Atlas Fire 3,000 3,300
6 2020 Glass Fire 2,950 3,070
7 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire 2,500 2,600
8 2017 Thomas Fire 2,250 2,470
9 2020 LNU Lightning Complex Fire 2,250 2,340
10 2007 Witch Fire 1,600 2,080

(1) Includes losses sustained by private insurers and government-sponsored programs such as the National Flood Insurance Program. Includes events that occurred through 2021. All fires on this list occurred in California. Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Ranked on losses in 2021 dollars. Subject to change as loss estimates are further developed. As of Feburary 3, 2022.
(2) Adjusted for inflation by Aon using the U.S. Consumer Price Index.

Source: Aon.