An increasing number of home insurance claims are being made due to fires and or fire damage according to figures released by the Association of British insurers.

The report which was published in the Financial Times said that the ABI has seen a continual increase in the number of claims being made because of fire, both in the home insurance and commercial insurance properties.

Whilst some of these are believed to be fraudulent largely put down to the recession it is believed that arson and fraud are two of the moist common crimes that arise during an economic recession.

The ABI commented on the rise saying "We do know that there are some crimes that are linked to the underlying economic climate fraud being one of them."

Nick Starling, director of general insurance and health at the ABI, said earlier in the year that fire insurance remains important as more large-scale fires are reported, putting the safety of inhabitants at risk.

Whilst the ABI is experiencing a rise in fire related claims, some insurers in America must be quacking in their boots as wild fire continues to ravage much of California's forest areas.

The recent news that it is expected to blaze for a week or two more will also be met with much fear as fire fighters are still fighting the blaze.

"The fire is headed just about anywhere it wants to," said Mike Dietrich, LA County Fire deputy chief.

"It is going east, north east and north, and might go west too. This is a very angry fire. Until we get a change in the weather conditions, I am not overly optimistic," he added.

Keeping it under control seems to be the main priority for the fire crews, but whilst this is happening a mass evacuation of people and wildlife is happening in the forests.

At the wildlife way station the evacuation of nearly 400 animal's continued with Lions, tiger, leopards, mountain lions, wolves, black bears and ostriches were placed in cages and on to horse trailers and other heavy vehicles and moved to the Los Angeles Zoo and other facilities.

As for the evacuation of people, the government is still urging some to leave the area after three people where seriously injured trying to sit out the flames waiting in the hot tub.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, California's Governor said "There were people that got burned and got critically injured because they did not listen."

Terry Crews, an actor, didn't need to be told to leave. He grabbed his dog and rushed out of his home in Altadena, in the foothills above Pasadena two days ago when he saw 40-foot flames.

"I've never seen anything like it," he said. "I'm from Michigan. I'm used to tornadoes ... but to see this thing, you feel helpless."

At the Crescenta Valley High School, a centre which has been set up for evacuees, Jane Rollins said: "It looked like Armageddon. We live with the possibility of earthquake and fire in Los Angeles, it's the price you pay for the sun and palm trees and large gardens. But I'd take an earthquake any day."

Whilst many are still trying to put the fires out, insurance companies across America must be bracing themselves for the wave of claims which will be made once people are allowed to return to there homes.