Fire Damage Statistics in California

California is a state that is heavily affected by fires, including structure fires and wildfires.  Understanding how fires affect the state can aid in the effort to prevent and contain fires and limit the losses they cause.

As of February 2024, the state of California has already experienced the following incidents:

• 126 wildland fires
• 649 structure fires
• 57,447 medical responses
• 3,332 hazmat incidents
• 335 law enforcement responses
• 10,578 public service responses
• 80,575 total incidents

For most recent data visit https://www.fire.ca.gov/our-impact/statistics 

Wildfires in California

Unfortunately, wildfires are common throughout the state of California.  The following Year-to-Date wildland fire statistics for California are current as of February 2024:

• 2024: 126 wildland fires affecting 26 acres
• 2023: 198 wildland fires affecting 59 acres
• 5-year average: 305 wildland fires affecting 1397 acres

The State of California works with firefighting professionals to help prevent and respond to wildfire incidents and keep them contained.  The firefighting force of California is the largest in the nation with 12,000 personnel who protect 31 million acres.  In 2023, they responded to more than 7000 incidents related to wildfires.

Reducing the Risk of Wildfires

One of the ways California is working to reduce wildfires is by reducing the amount of materials in the forests that can fuel a fire.  In the fiscal year 2022/23, more than 97,000 acres were treated for fuel reduction and more than 250,000 Defensible Space inspections were completed.

Fire Losses in California

Fires can lead to devastating losses in terms of property as well as injuries and death.  Fortunately, California is below the national average when it comes to fire casualties.  According the data from NFIRS for 2021, California experienced an average of 1.5 deaths and 4 injuries per 1000 fires compared to the national average of 2.3 deaths and 7.2 injuries.  For residential structure fires, California experienced 5.7 deaths and 17.1 injuries per 1000 fires compared to the national average of 6.5 deaths and 20.9 injuries over the same period.

The following are the percentage of deaths that occurred for each type of fire incident:

• Structure fires: 57.1% (national average: 74.5%)
• Residential structure fires: 49.5% (national average: 70.9%)
• Vehicles: 32.4% (national average: 21.2%)
• Outside fires: 7.1% (national average: 3%)

The following are the percentage of injuries caused by each type of fire:

• Structure fires: 65.6% (national average: 82%)
• Residential structure fires: 54.3% (national average: 74.1%)
• Vehicles: 17.4% (national average: 9.2%)
• Outside fires: 13.4% (national average: 5.7%)

The following are the percentage of firefighter injuries caused by each type of fire:

• Structure fires: 50.5% (national average: 79%)
• Residential structure fires: 37.6% (national average: 56.7%)
• Vehicles: 8.5% (national average: 7.0%)
• Outside fires: 40.7% (national average: 13%)

The following are the percentage of calls for each type of fire incident in California:

• EMS: 66.7%
• Good intent: 15%
• Service calls: 6.3%
• False alarms: 5.6%
• Fires: 4.2%
• All other: 2.2%

If your home or business has been damaged by a fire in California, make sure you reach out to a fire damage restoration professional in your area immediately.

Water Damage and Flooding Statistics in California

California is one of the most vulnerable states when it comes to flooding. Every county within the state of California has experienced a major flood in the previous 25 years that has resulted in billions of dollars of damage and the loss of life.  At any time, one in five people who live in California are vulnerable to flooding, as well as $580 billion worth of property.  Flooding in California can also heavily disrupt transportation, water supply, energy, and sewer networks.

California may experience the following types of flooding:

• Values in the state, including Central Valley, are vulnerable to flooding from overflowing rivers.
• Lowland coastal areas are vulnerable to flooding from high tides, storm driven waves, and the occasional tsunami.
• The deserts, areas recently affected by wildfires, and areas of Southern California are vulnerable to flash flooding.
• Storms can cause local urban flooding due to inadequate drainage systems and surfaces like streets and parking lots that do not absorb water.

Some of the flooding that occurs in California is beneficial for the environment as it helps maintain the natural balance of erosion and sedimentation, replenishes the soil, recharges groundwater, and helps support natural habitats in coastal and river floodplains.  When flooding occurs in populated areas, it can cause property damage, loss of life, damage to the infrastructure, and disruption of the water supply system.

Every area of California is vulnerable to flooding at various times of the year.  River flooding and the effects of climate change are among the leading causes of flooding in California.  It is important for those living in California to be aware of the flood risk for their area and know what to do to protect themselves and their property from potential flooding.

Climate Change and California Flooding

The flood management systems in California were built to handle the climate of the 20^th century.  However, climate change has led to more yearly rain, stronger winter storms, and extreme high tides that are quickly making the current flood management systems obsolete.  California needs major investments to build new infrastructure to help better protect against flooding.

The previous flood management systems worked by routing floodwater to the ocean using thousands of miles of river channels lined with rocks or concrete.  However, these channels cause harm to the natural environment and cut communities off from the nearby rivers.  Modern flood management techniques integrate water into overall water management, such as using flood water to restore wetlands and river corridors and recharge aquifers.

Importance of Flood Insurance

Damage caused by flooding is not typically covered by homeowner’s insurance or insurance policies for commercial property.  Instead, homeowners and property owners must purchase flood insurance though the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  Those who have flood insurance through this program generally recover faster following a flood.

If your home or business in California is affected by flooding or water damage, call a water damage restoration provider in your area right away.

We are experts in emergency fire and water restoration services in California, fire cleanup and water damage cleanup, as well as normally scheduled carpet and upholstery cleaning services. Our highly trained technicians are ready to handle emergencies around-the-clock, or schedule convenient appointment times for standard carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning and vent duct cleaning in CA.

Please, call your local restoration contractor at (888) 915-7197

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