Housing damage from Carr Fire surpasses deadly Thomas Fire

Over 1,370 structures have been destroyed so far

Forest burns in the Carr Fire on July 30, 2018 west of Redding, California (Credit: Photo by Terray Sylvester/Getty Images)
Forest burns in the Carr Fire on July 30, 2018 west of Redding, California (Credit: Photo by Terray Sylvester/Getty Images)

The Carr fire in Shasta County has destroyed more than 1,600 homes and structures since it started on July 23, causing more damage than December’s Thomas Fire.

With only 43 percent of it contained as of Sunday, the Northern California fire has scorched more than 160,000 acres in the area, the New York Times reported.

The Thomas Fire destroyed 1,060 homes in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Fire fighters finally contained it some six months after it started in December and had burned 281,900 acres.

At one point, the Thomas Fire put about $2.8 billion worth of residential real estate in danger.

So far, the Carr fire has claimed at least 270 buildings, most of them homes in the city of Redding. It also destroyed 370 homes in Shasta, a neighboring community.

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Seven people have died.

Meanwhile, the Mendocino Complex fire is now the second-largest wildfire in the state’s history with more than 273,000 acres burnt. The Holy Fire also broke out in Orange County Monday, and has blazed over 700 acres thus far.

Wildfires in California have been driving up insurance claims in the region as thousands of homeowners seek some form of compensation for their losses. As of February, the December fires led to nearly $12 billion in damages statewide, and nearly $2 billion in losses alone in Southern California.

The skyrocketing costs to insure homes in fire-prone regions could mean a loss in insurers for the region, according to a Department of Insurance commissioner. [NYT] — Natalie Hoberman