The October windstorms and wildfires that caused an estimated$1.6 billion insured loss in California have produced more claimsthan 2003, the state's last record year for blazes, an industrygroup said.

Insurance Information Network of California said a survey of theinsurance industry has confirmed at least 22,700 claims filed fromthe Southern California fires and windstorms.

This compares with 19,100 claims in 2003 when 3,600 homes wereburned for a loss of $2.2 billion after inflationaryadjustments.

IINC said this year's tally includes at least 2,000 insuranceclaims for damage stemming from the windstorms that fueledwildfires nearly a month ago.

The nonprofit trade group noted that while the wildfires did notburn as many homes as the firestorms of 2003, the reason theylikely caused a greater number of insurance claims was because ofthe mass evacuation of San Diego County, which resulted inincreased claims for additional living expenses.

Homeowner policies often pay for hotel costs prompted by amandatory evacuation, IINC noted.

Working in partnership with the Insurance Information Instituteto review claims data, IINC projects that insurers will pay atleast $1.6 billion for wind and fire damage to homes, farms,vehicles and businesses.

IINC said that with 2,900 homes lost and $2.4 billion ininsurance claims paid in 2005 dollars, the Oakland Hills fireremains at this point the most destructive single brushfire inCalifornia history.

More information on the fires is on the IINC Web site atwww.iinc.org.

IINC had no immediate estimate concerning the fires that ravagedthe Malibu area this week forcing 10,000 persons to flee thearea.

Candysse Miller, IINC executive director said by e-mail that,"It's currently too early to estimate the total losses from theCorral (Malibu) fire, which was just brought under control today,though insured losses on the 53 homes lost and more than 30 damagedwill clearly be in the millions of dollars."

This article updated 7:07 p.m. EST