Wildfire events are growing increasingly frequent and destructive around the world as human-driven climate impacts continue to escalate—and the United States is no exception.
This article was written by Julie Wendling and originally published by Visual Capitalist.
In collaboration with Inigo Insurance, this visual explores the most expensive wildfires in U.S. history to date, using data from the National Centers for Environmental Information to provide crucial context around their financial toll.
Wildfires
According to NASA, extreme wildfire activity has more than doubled globally over the past two decades. Fire seasons are not only growing longer, but off-season wildfires are also becoming increasingly common. A striking example is the Marshall Fire, which erupted in Colorado during the winter of 2021 and went on to become the state’s most costly wildfire on record.
At the same time, wildfire-related emissions are surging. Between 2001 and 2023, NASA researchers observed a 60% rise in carbon emissions from forest fires.
While wildfires are a natural part of many ecosystems, the growing intensity and frequency of fires—amplified by a warming climate—are raising serious environmental concerns.
California Wildfires
California and its neighboring Western states have been the epicenter of many of the most financially devastating wildfires in U.S. history. At the top of the list are the January 2025 Pacific Palisades and Eaton Fires, which together caused an unprecedented $65.0 billion in damage.
| Name | Begin Date | CPI-Adjusted Cost ($ billions) |
|---|---|---|
| Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire, Los Angeles | January 2025 | 65.0 |
| Western Wildfires, California Firestorm | June 2018 | 30.0 |
| Western Wildfires, California Firestorm | June 2017 | 23.2 |
| Western Wildfires – California, Oregon, Washington Firestorms | August 2020 | 19.9 |
| Western Wildfires | June 2021 | 12.1 |
| Oakland Firestorm | Oct 1991 | 7.6 |
| California Wildfires | Sept 2003 | 6.6 |
| Hawaii Firestorm | August 2023 | 5.7 |
| California and Alaska Wildfires | June 2019 | 5.5 |
| Western Wildfires | June 2007 | 4.1 |
Next are three other major California wildfires: the June 2018 fires ($30.0 billion), June 2017 fires ($23.2 billion), and August 2020 fires ($19.9 billion), which also extended into Oregon and Washington. Each of these events inflicted tens of billions of dollars in destruction.
In fact, 9 of the 10 most expensive wildfires on record occurred in California and other Western states, underscoring the region’s heightened vulnerability to extreme fire events.
A Future of Fires
As climate change continues to accelerate, extreme weather events—including wildfires—are expected to remain a persistent threat. The rising toll in both frequency and financial damage highlights the critical importance of fire preparedness and securing adequate insurance coverage.
