California Carr fire among top 10 most destructive on record

The Carr fire in California which burned nearly 100,000 acres is  now among the top 10 most destructive fires on record in California, according to an Aon Cat Alert.

The fire was fuelled by temperatures topping 100°F (37.8°C), shifting winds, and extremely dry conditions in place and damaged or destroyed no fewer than 1,159 structures.

The fast-moving wildfire was ignited outside Redding, California on July 23 before later entering the western edge of the city limits on July 26-27. At least six people were killed and several others were injured as the fire prompted evacuation orders for 38,000 of the city’s nearly 92,000 residents. Seven people remain listed as missing.

A state of emergency was declared. Total economic damage – including physical damage and firefighting costs – and insurance payments were anticipated to well exceed $100 million. Beyond the Carr Fire, firefighters continued to battle more than a dozen other active fires in California.

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