Crime & Safety
Yosemite Fire Using Up Resources
The state will receive help from the federal government.
The Department of Finance estimated the state of California has spent $44 million fighting fires thus far according to a report by the Sacramento Bee on Monday. The Budget is $172 million for the entire season.
The fire raging near Yosemite, which is threatening water and power sources for the Bay Area, is contributing to a run-up in California's firefighting expenses early in the season.
"We're eight weeks in and we've spent roughly a quarter of what's budgeted," Finance Department spokesperson H.D. Palmer said.
A $1.1 billion reserve exists, said Palmer, that the state can utilize if costs exceed the budget. The state will also receive help from the federal government once officials sort out resources state and federal teams expended on fires on state and federal lands.
On Sunday, President Barack Obama called Gov. Jerry Brown and committed federal resources to help the state, according to a statement form the White House.
