Claims News Service, Nov. 19, 9:49 a.m. EST — In a year that has seen near-record numbers of tornadoes, the return of land-falling hurricanes, and hail storms that have topped $200 million in losses, 2008 is adding one more natural disaster to its checklist: Wildfires.

Although several wildfires exploded in Southern California in October, recent weekend wildfires fanned by hurricane-force Santa Ana winds are much more intense and are forcing thousands of people to evacuate their homes in parts of Southern California. Early estimates from Guy Carpenter indicate that more than 950 homes, ranging from multi-million-dollar mansions to more modest mobile homes, have been destroyed. Thousands more remain under threat from the fires that stretch from Santa Barbara to Southeast Los Angeles. More than 42,000 acres of land has been destroyed, and property losses could total more than $500 million.

Two fires — referred to as the Sayre Fire and the Triangle Complex Fire — are only partially contained. The Sayre Fire is located in Los Angeles County and accounts for more than 615 damaged or destroyed structures. The Triangle Complex Fire is burning in Orange and Riverside Counties and has damaged or destroyed 259 residencies, with more than 1,000 still threatened.