SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Insurance claims have topped $12 billion for the November wildfires in California, making them the most expensive in state history.

The figure released Wednesday by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara covers the fire that destroyed the town of Paradise and two Southern California blazes.

Most of the damages relate to the Paradise fire, which killed 85 people and destroyed nearly 19,000 buildings.

The increasing destruction by wildfires is making it harder and more costly for people to obtain homeowners insurance in the state.

A series of sweeping fires in California in late 2017 had been the most expensive, with claims topping $11.8 billion.

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