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Last Updated: May 31, 2008 - 8:42:48 AM

                                                                                                                              

Economic Impact of the 2007 Southern California Wildfires

12/24/2007

The Southern California wildfires of October 2007 affected lives and businesses in seven Southern California counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and President George W. Bush each declared a state of emergency. The Labor Market Information Division (LMID) gathered information from many sources related to the economic impact of the wildfires.  Twenty-three separate named fires burned approximately 518,021 acres (809.4 square miles), destroyed 2,180 residences, 922 outbuildings, but only five commercial buildings.  In short, the fires of 2007 swept through people’s homes and caused substantial residential and emotional damage. The firefighters who bravely fought the fires of 2007 prevented even further economic loss by keeping the flames out of commercial areas so people still had their jobs, even if they have to cope with other economic disruptions. To read the entire Labor Market Information Division’s 2007 Fire Report .