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That pledge comes with a hefty price tag.<\/p>\n
California is staring down soaring fuel costs <\/a>and expanding fire danger, yet state leaders are sticking with an expensive, all-in wildfire strategy.<\/p>\n Jet fuel prices have surged between 82% and 110%<\/a> in just three months, a spike that is hammering industries that rely on aircraft<\/p>\n But Cal Fire<\/a> says its sprawling aerial firefighting operation will not scale back as wildfire season ramps up.<\/p>\n That pledge comes with a hefty price tag.<\/p>\n Firefighters battle the Palisades Fire as it burns during a windstorm on the west side of Los Angeles, California. Getty Images<\/p>\n Gavin Newsom is seen at the 33rd Annual White House Correspondents\u2019 Garden Brunch in Washington, DC. Nathan Posner\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n Gavin Newsom\u2019s proposed 2026\u201327 budge<\/a>t includes $457 million for wildfire and forest resilience, adding to nearly $4 billion the state has committed since 2021.<\/p>\n Newsom is required to release an updated version of the budget, known as the \u201cMay Revision,\u201d by May 14.<\/p>\n The plan relies on a mix of funding sources, including $315 million from a climate bond for large-scale forest and community projects and $142 million from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund<\/a> for prescribed fire crews and other fire prevention tactics.<\/p>\n Another $120 million in forest health grants was released early in 2026 to reduce fire risk and strengthen ecosystems.<\/p>\n At the same time, California is committing $770.4 million each year to its firefighting workforce.<\/p>\n Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/p>\n California Post News: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a> The funding supports a 66-hour workweek and a plan to add more than 2,000 firefighters by 2028\u201329.<\/p>\n The state has also spent about $380 million on its aerial fleet, which now includes 16 advanced helicopters.<\/p>\n Officials say it is the largest aerial firefighting force in the world.<\/p>\n Technology spending continues to climb as well, with $3.5 million annually for fire detection cameras and satellite mapping, plus $37.1 million for AI-powered intelligence systems.<\/p>\n All of this is unfolding as more Californians are being pulled into high-risk fire zones<\/a>.<\/p>\n Following destructive fires in the Palisades and Altadena areas, officials expanded high-severity fire maps across Los Angeles County.<\/p>\n Mayor Karen Bass Unveils Proposed FY 2026\u20132027 City Budget at City Hall on Monday April 20, 2026. Ringo Chiu<\/p>\n The updated boundaries add roughly 15,000 to 20,000 properties, including neighborhoods north of Ventura Boulevard that had not previously faced strict brush rules.<\/p>\n Thousands of homeowners are now being told to comply with new requirements.<\/p>\n Grass and brush must be kept under three inches, trees must be trimmed away from structures, and branches must remain at least 10 feet from chimneys.<\/p>\n The Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhood amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Jan. 7, 2025. AP<\/p>\n Inspections in the newly designated zones were expected to begin Friday, May 1.<\/p>\n Even with fuel costs climbing fast, Cal Fire insists it will not pull back its aerial response.<\/p>\n Instead, the agency is looking for ways to cut costs behind the scenes.<\/p>\n One approach is shifting more training into flight simulators to reduce fuel use and limit wear on aircraft.<\/p>\n Philip Mateer, Cal Fire Battalion Chief of Training. KCRA<\/p>\n \u201cThey pay for themselves in a lot of different ways, whether it\u2019s the safety \u2014 we\u2019re not exposing our flight crews to environmental hazards,\u201d Philip Mateer, Cal Fire Battalion Chief of Training told KCRA<\/a>. \u201cFlying aircraft is safe, but it\u2019s very unforgiving if there is a mishap. So being able to do it in a controlled environment is worth its weight in gold for what we do with them.\u201d<\/p>\n Crews still train in real aircraft, but the simulator strategy is meant to stretch resources as expenses rise.<\/p>\n![\"Firefighters](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1777785552_257_61a6aaf62bb720b480513e0d36024ddd.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"Gavin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1777785553_766_c42e3c67de52a6b605e1e5f91a36ca01.jpeg\"\/)
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Home delivery: Sign up here!<\/a>Page Six Hollywood: <\/a>Sign up here!<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Mayor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1777785553_622_0f5cb954d356a378ca719bee127c261e.jpeg\"\/)
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<\/p>\n![\"Philip](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1777785553_393_2bba75a1caf10f1276d42bac9fb116af.jpeg\"\/)
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