San Salvador Times
The Pulse of El Salvador’s Transformation
Friday, Apr 04, 2025
San Salvador Times
Wildfires in California Poised to Be the Most Expensive in U.S. History
The economic damage from the Southern California wildfires may amount to as much as $57 billion, exceeding past records and underscoring the increasing impact of wildfires in the area.
The wildfires currently ravaging Southern California could lead to economic losses between $52 billion and $57 billion, potentially making them the most costly in U.S. history, as per an analysis by AccuWeather’s Global Weather Center.
This estimate encompasses both direct and indirect effects, including damage to property, wages, crops, infrastructure, supply chains, and travel.
Jonathan Porter, AccuWeather's chief meteorologist, cautioned that if more structures are destroyed, the wildfires might exceed the devastation of previous major disasters, such as Maui's 2023 wildfires, which caused $13 billion to $16 billion in damages.
The fires have already resulted in at least five fatalities, and many residents, particularly in high-risk areas like Pacific Palisades, face difficulties due to the lack of property insurance, as insurers are reluctant to provide coverage in expensive, high-risk areas.
The rapid spread of the fires through densely populated regions poses a risk of increasing the damage, with economists cautioning that the loss estimates could significantly rise.
Insured losses are expected to surpass $20 billion, potentially making these wildfires the most expensive in U.S. history.
California's leaders are already preparing emergency disaster relief measures to assist affected communities as the situation continues to unfold.
This estimate encompasses both direct and indirect effects, including damage to property, wages, crops, infrastructure, supply chains, and travel.
Jonathan Porter, AccuWeather's chief meteorologist, cautioned that if more structures are destroyed, the wildfires might exceed the devastation of previous major disasters, such as Maui's 2023 wildfires, which caused $13 billion to $16 billion in damages.
The fires have already resulted in at least five fatalities, and many residents, particularly in high-risk areas like Pacific Palisades, face difficulties due to the lack of property insurance, as insurers are reluctant to provide coverage in expensive, high-risk areas.
The rapid spread of the fires through densely populated regions poses a risk of increasing the damage, with economists cautioning that the loss estimates could significantly rise.
Insured losses are expected to surpass $20 billion, potentially making these wildfires the most expensive in U.S. history.
California's leaders are already preparing emergency disaster relief measures to assist affected communities as the situation continues to unfold.
