California wildfire statistics for 2023

Wildfires are a part of life for most Californians. Over 2 million homes are at risk for wildfire damage in The Golden State, according to Verisk Wildfire Risk Analysis. [1] Here’s a breakdown of California wildfire stats, facts, and figures in 2023.

California wildfires facts and statistics

From the number of acres set afire in 2022 to the deadliest wildfires in The Golden State to date, here are 10 recent facts about wildfires in California. 

• Nearly 199,000 acres burned in California as of August 2022 [2]

• Over 5,600 fire incidents so far in California in 2022 [3]

• Over 500 structures destroyed by wildfires in California as of August 2022 [4]

• 297 fires burned in January 2021alone, which was an unusually early start to wildfire season in California [5]

• California went 200 days without rain in 2021 — rainfall eventually came in October 2021, helping reduce the wildfire spread [6]

• Over 1 million  acres burned by the August Complex fire in 2020, the most destructive wildfire in California history [7]

• Over 1,300 structures destroyed by the Dixie Fire in July 2021, the second most destructive wildfire in California history [8]

• 85 deaths caused by the Camp Fire in November 2018, the deadliest wildfire in California to date [9]

• Around 2,040,600 California properties at risk for wildfire damage as of 2021 [10]

• Around $13 billion total insured losses due to wildfire incidents in California in 2018 [11]

Largest wildfires in California history

Some of the most destructive wildfires in California history have taken place in the last 10 years. Experts base the worst fires on how many acres are burned. In 2020, the August Complex fire burned over 1 million acres, making it the largest wildfire in California history. 

Most common causes of wildfires in California

Nearly 84% of wildfires are started by humans, like by downed powerlines, campfires, and arson. [12] Combine this with the rapid effects of climate change that California is seeing — with warmer temperatures, drier seasons, and extended periods of drought — and it’s a recipe for disaster. 

Here are the causes of the top 15 largest wildfires in California history. [13]

Wildfire	Date	Cause	Number of acres burned	Number of structures burned
August Complex	August 2020	Lightning	1,032,648	935
Dixie	July 2021	Powerlines	963,309	1,329
Mendocino Complex	July 2018	Human related	459,123	280
SCU Lightning Complex	August 2020	Lightning	396,624	222
Creek	September 2020	Undetermined	379,895	853
LNU Lightning Complex	August 2020	Lightning & arson	363,220	1,491
North Complex	August 2020	Lightning	318,935	2,352
Thomas	December 2017	Powerlines	281,893	1,063
Cedar	October 2003	Human related	273,246	2,820
Rush	August 2012	Lightning	271,911	0
Rim	August 2013	Human related	257,314	112
Zaca	July 2007	Human related	240,207	1
Carr	July 2018	Human related	229,651	1,614
Monument	July 2021	Lightning	223,124	50
Caldor	August 2021	Human related	221,835	1,003

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Wildfire insurance in California: Facts and figures

It can be difficult for homeowners in high-risk wildfire areas to find adequate homeowners insurance coverage. If that’s the case for you, you may need to go with a last-resort coverage option, like the California FAIR Plan. 

Below is a breakdown of home insurance and FAIR Plans in The Golden State.

Standard home insurance

• Average cost: $1,565/year or $130/month

• Covers: Your home and personal property from covered losses, including wildfire damage

Standard home insurance policies may exclude wildfire damage if you live in a high-risk area. Plus, premiums are getting more expensive. Homeowners in California saw an increase of nearly 10% in home insurance costs from May 2021 to May 2022. This is due to the increase in destructive wildfires, building costs, and a shortage of labor.

California FAIR Plan

• Average cost: More expensive than standard home insurance

• Covers: Damage caused by fire, smoke, lightning, or internal explosion

To qualify for a California FAIR Plan policy, you need to have been denied coverage on the private market. And since FAIR Plans offer more limited coverage options and tend to cost more than standard insurance policies, they're best saved as a last resort after you've exhausted all other options available to you.

Facts about California wildfire prevention programs 

There are multiple things you can do to protect your home from wildfire damage — and some may score you a discount with your home insurance company. 

Below are some initiatives the California Department of Insurance is advising homeowners to take advantage of.

Wildfire Prepared Home Program 

If you receive a designation through this program, you’ll likely see a discount on your home insurance premiums.

To receive this designation, your home will need to meet several structural requirements, including:

• Class-A fire-resistant rated roof

• Exterior walls with a minimum of 6 vertical inches (measured from the ground up) of noncombustible material, such as brick, stone, or concrete

• Gutters and downspouts made of noncombustible material

FireWise USA community programs 

This program helps communities get organized with a safety plan and make their homes fire-resistant. If you don’t live in a FireWise community, you can follow the steps to apply to be one on the FireWise USA website. 

Once FireWise helps you fire-proof your home, make sure you contact your insurance company — the efforts you took to prevent wildfire damage may result in a discount on your premiums.