Wine country wildfire costs now top $9 billion, costliest in California history

October’s wine country wildfires are now the costliest in California history, with insurance claims pegged at $9.4 billion. The latest tally Wednesday from the state Insurance Department means the wine country fires have vaulted past the Oakland Hills fire of 1991 as the most expensive in California fire history. Oakland Hills generated about $2.8 billion in claims, when adjusted for inflation.