A Wildfire Burning In New Jersey Could Be The State’s Biggest Ever. These Are The Costliest Wildfires In US History

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Earlier this week, a wildfire in southern New Jersey spread to 11,500 acres, forcing a shutdown of a 17-mile stretch of the Garden State Parkway and the evacuation of 3,000 residents. While fire crews are working to contain the blaze, the current fire could rank as the worst in New Jersey history.

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Historical data shows wildfires are getting more intense and more destructive. While climate change exacerbates many of the factors that lead to fire, such as hot temperatures and dry vegetation, increased development and urbanization are also making fires more destructive when they occur. According to data from the National Fire Protection Association, 18 of the 20 costliest fires in U.S. history occurred in the last 25 years. A closer look at the data reveals the costliest wildfires in U.S. history.

To determine the costliest wildfires in U.S. history, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on historical fires from the National Fire Protection Association. Fires were ranked based on total property damage, adjusted to 2024 dollars. Supplemental data on structures destroyed, acres burned, and fatalities is also from NFPA.

20. Dixie Fire (California, July 2021)

• Total cost, adjusted for inflation: $752.2 million
• Property destroyed: 935 structures
• Area burned: 1,032,648 acres
• Fatalities: 1 deaths

 

19. Carr Fire (California, July 2018)

• Total cost, adjusted for inflation: $1.1 billion
• Property destroyed: 1,614 structures
• Area burned: 229,651 acres
• Fatalities: 8 deaths

 

18. Laguna Beach Fire (California, October 1993)

• Total cost, adjusted for inflation: $1.1 billion
• Property destroyed: 441 structures
• Area burned: 14,337 acres
• Fatalities: 0 deaths

 

17. Chimney Tops 2 Fire (Tennessee, November 2016)

• Total cost, adjusted for inflation: $1.2 billion
• Property destroyed: 2,460 structures
• Area burned: 17,140 acres
• Fatalities: 14 deaths

 

16. Old Fire (California, October 2003)

• Total cost, adjusted for inflation: $1.7 billion
• Property destroyed: 1,003 structures
• Area burned: 91,281 acres
• Fatalities: 6 deaths

 

15. Cerro Grande Wildland Fire (New Mexico, May 2000)

• Total cost, adjusted for inflation: $1.8 billion
• Property destroyed: 420 structures
• Area burned: 48,000 acres
• Fatalities: 0 deaths

 

14. Cedar Fire (California, October 2003)

• Total cost, adjusted for inflation: $1.9 billion
• Property destroyed: 2,820 structures
• Area burned: 273,246 acres
• Fatalities: 15 deaths

 

13. Valley Fire (California, September 2015)

• Total cost, adjusted for inflation: $2.0 billion
• Property destroyed: 1,958 structures
• Area burned: 76,067 acres
• Fatalities: 4 deaths

 

12. California Fire Siege (California, December 2017)

• Total cost, adjusted for inflation: $2.3 billion
• Property destroyed: 1,355 structures
• Area burned: 307,953 acres
• Fatalities: 8 deaths

 

11. LNU Lightning Complex Fire (California, August 2020)

• Total cost, adjusted for inflation: $2.7 billion
• Property destroyed: 1,491 structures
• Area burned: 363,220 acres
• Fatalities: 6 deaths

 

10. The Southern California Firestorm Fire (California, October 2007)

• Total cost, adjusted for inflation: $2.7 billion
• Property destroyed: 3,108 structures
• Area burned: 518,000 acres
• Fatalities: 10 deaths

 

9. CZU Lightning Complex Fire (California, August 2020)

• Total cost, adjusted for inflation: $3.0 billion
• Property destroyed: 1,490 structures
• Area burned: 86,509 acres
• Fatalities: 1 deaths

 

8. Thomas Fire (California, December 2017)

• Total cost, adjusted for inflation: $3.2 billion
• Property destroyed: 1,063 structures
• Area burned: 281,893 acres
• Fatalities: 2 deaths

 

7. Glass Fire (California, September 2020)

• Total cost, adjusted for inflation: $3.5 billion
• Property destroyed: 1,555 structures
• Area burned: 67,484 acres
• Fatalities: 0 deaths

 

6. Atlas Fire (California, October 2017)

• Total cost, adjusted for inflation: $3.8 billion
• Property destroyed: 783 structures
• Area burned: 51,624 acres
• Fatalities: 6 deaths

 

5. Tunnel/Oakland Hills Fire (California, October 1991)

• Total cost, adjusted for inflation: $3.9 billion
• Property destroyed: 2,900 structures
• Area burned: 1,600 acres
• Fatalities: 25 deaths

 

4. Woolsey Fire (California, November 2018)

• Total cost, adjusted for inflation: $5.2 billion
• Property destroyed: 1,643 structures
• Area burned: 96,949 acres
• Fatalities: 3 deaths

 

3. Lahaina Fire (Hawaii, August 2023)

• Total cost, adjusted for inflation: $6.2 billion
• Property destroyed: 3,000 structures
• Area burned: 2,170 acres
• Fatalities: 101 deaths

 

2. Tubbs Fire (California, October 2017)

• Total cost, adjusted for inflation: $11.0 billion
• Property destroyed: 5,636 structures
• Area burned: 36,807 acres
• Fatalities: 22 deaths

 

1. Camp Fire (California, November 2018)

• Total cost, adjusted for inflation: $12.4 billion
• Property destroyed: 18,804 structures
• Area burned: 153,336 acres
• Fatalities: 85 deaths

 

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