California wildfires: Highlighting the need for public backstops
Wildfires in California may cause more than double the insured losses of Canada’s worst catastrophe year ever in 2024
By David Gambrill | January 13, 2025
4 min read
| Location | Year | Victims | Insured Damage | |
| (US$ at 2000 prices) | ||||
| 1. Hurricane Andrew | Florida | 1992 | 38 | 19,649,000 |
| 2. Northridge earthquake | California | 1994 | 60 | 16,277,000 |
| 3. Typhoon Mireille | Japan | 1991 | 51 | 7,142,000 |
| 4. Winter storm Daria | Europe | 1990 | 95 | 6,053,000 |
| 5. Winter storm Lothar | Europe | 1999 | 80 | 5,998,000 |
| 27. Urban interface forest fires | California | 1991 | 26 | 1,518,000 |
| 39. Urban interface forest fires | California | 1993 | 3 | 1,133,000 |
Source: Swiss Re/Sigma
