Alabama Wildfires Increased by 160 Percent, Survey Finds

(TNS) – Alabama saw the nation’s second highest increase in wildfires in a year’s time, according to a survey by online site LendingTree.

The analysis, which looks at statistics from 2022, used the wildfire data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Risk Index. The survey looked at building and agricultural values, as well as population equivalence, and calculated annual losses.

Among its findings, California, Florida and Texas have the highest wildfire risk, with the Golden State leading by a large margin, with expected annual losses from wildfires totaling $1.4 billion.

Florida and Texas were next, but each with less than $300 million in losses. Texas has the highest expected annual economic losses due to wildfire casualties and injuries, at $11.1 million.

Nationally, wildfires were up 17 percent annually in 2022. Arkansas had the biggest increase, with a whopping 403.4%.

Alabama was next, with an increase of 160.6% over 2021. According to the survey, Alabama has 1,040 wildfires in 2021, and 2,710 in 2022.

According to LendingTree, five other states experienced an increase of at least 100% in wildfires over that time – Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Massachusetts.

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