Citing what it calls a potentially “dire situation,” State Farm asked California for permission to hike insurance rates by an average of 22%.

Citing the "dire" financial situation they're facing after the Los Angeles wildfires, State Farm General has asked California officials for an emergency interim rate increase. The rate hike could work out to an average increase of 22% for California homeowners,

State Farm has received more than 8,700 claims from the Los Angeles fires alone and paid more than $1 billion to customers, according to the company. The insurer expects to pay out significantly more, and the fires will be the costliest in the history of State Farm, the company said.