The wildfires that erupted this week across Los Angeles County are far from contained, but they're already expected to be the costliest in U.S. history and among the worst natural disasters.

Economic losses and damage are an estimated $135 billion and $150 billion, the costliest fire event in US history. Hurricane Helene in six states last fall caused up to $250 billion in damage.

The California wildfires could be the costliest disaster in US history, the state’s governor said, as forecasts of heavy winds raised fears that the catastrophic fires would spread further. In remarks to NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday,

At least 11 people killed, around 12,000 structures destroyed; fires consume about 56 square miles (142 square kilometres), an area larger than the size of San Francisco.