The High Costs Associated with Fighting the California Camp Fire

The costs of the wildfires of our previous few years are spiraling out of control, making it difficult to sustain any type of normal life in some of the areas of California that are most affected by these horrific incidents. One of the largest impacts us on the state and federal agencies that are using many different types of funds to ensure that crews and machinery can keep up with what is needed to fight these fires and clean up the towns and cities that are devastated by them.

In the most recent budget year, it was reported that the federal government spent about $2.7 billion on firefighting costs to ensure that the wildfires were completely put out in a timely manner, which was much larger than any other budget in the past. The Camp Fire most recently became deemed the ‘costliest’ wildfire in California, as well as the most destructive of all wildfires in the state’s history. $16.5 billion losses stemmed from the fire, which made up an enormous amount of spending compared to disasters sustained by the rest of the world.

In just three month’s time, firefighting costs related to the Camp Fire chewed through over half of the emergency funds that were set aside for the state of California, but this does not include the costs that could be owed in damages to those who have suffered the worst losses, including the loss of loved ones.

Reasons for the Mounting Costs of Wildfires in California 

Why are wildfires slowly becoming some of the most expensive disasters known to man? The reason is mostly due to the fact that California is seeing bigger wildfires than ever before as well as ones that happen more frequently. The wildfire season is actually getting increasingly longer with drier weather that more easily contributes to these horrific and costly events. Because the blazes tend to move much more quickly, there is a good chance that these fires are more prone to wiping out entire towns and cities in hours to day’s worth of time.

Though there are budgets set for firefighting, many of these recent fires (including the Camp Fire) have changed the way we see wildfires, as they have become increasingly more expensive and sometimes the state of California wonders if it will be able to keep up if these fires spread more frequently and take many homes down with it, as well as the injuries and deaths that they cause.

A bigger budget is being set aside to account for these horrific fires, but when parties are found to be liable for these serious incidents, it is only a matter of time before they are forced to pay up. With the Camp Fire being blamed on the actions of PG&E and their equipment failure at this time, it is important to note that the company could be held fully liable pending the final investigation. For all who have suffered losses, PG&E might be responsible for giving back to the entire community.

At Marlene Leiva Law Group, our experienced professionals who have dealt with many types of legal cases in the past are willing to stand by your side and help you in the midst of the wildfire lawsuit as you work toward the compensation you deserve. Whether you have lost your home, lost a loved one, or you need help gaining damages for your injuries, we are willing to help you every step of the way. Contact us to find out how we can make a difference in your life today at 415-459-7300.