Through last Friday, California had already spent $115 million on emergency firefighting since the start of the July 1 fiscal year, or about one-fourth of the state's $442.8 million annual so-called e-fund budget. Those fire costs are through Friday and expected to go up due to extensive ground and air firefighting resources being used.However, if the state's fire costs exceed its e-fund budget in fiscal 2018-19, California can tap into its traditional budget reserves.
Fires across California kill at least eight people. One month into the fiscal year, the state's emergency fund is about one quarter spent.