Wildfires cause massive insurance claims

The wildfires that broke out this summer in the French departments of Gironde, Landes, and Var have led to approximately 22,500 insurance claims, with potential total costs reaching 563 million euros, according to the insurance federation France Assureurs. This figure is significantly higher than the 500 million euros estimated earlier in August.

Human impact and insurance response

Florence Lustman, president of France Assureurs, emphasized the "human tragedies" behind the statistics, noting the insurance sector's "solidarity" in handling claims. She stated that 56% of housing claims are now closed, and 71% of claims have been partially or fully indemnified, with the rate rising to 93% for homes with claims exceeding 150,000 euros.

Types of claims and regional focus

Of the total claims, 81% involve individual property, 15% are from professionals such as craftsmen and farmers, and 4% are for vehicles. In Gironde and Landes, the areas most affected by the fires, the federation estimates 21,510 claims, potentially costing 520 million euros. In these regions, 95% of the 400 most expensive claims have received at least one advance payment.

Public frustration and insurer commitments

Victims of the fires, particularly in Porge, a commune in Gironde where 183 homes were destroyed, have expressed frustration over the slow progress in addressing their needs. Insurers have committed to visiting all victims with severely damaged homes by October 20 to evaluate solutions for faster reconstruction and to consider extending relocation cost coverage for those in the most difficult situations.

Scale of the disaster compared to past events

The impact of this year's wildfires surpasses that of the 2022 forest fires, which resulted in about 2,000 claims and 80 million euros in costs. This summer's fires occurred amid repeated heatwaves and a historic drought, leading to nearly 100,000 hectares of forest burned in France—a record in twenty years of satellite data. The largest fire hit Gironde, where 42,000 hectares were consumed, a record not seen since 1949.