California's Wildfire Debris Removal Costs Could Approach $250 Million

It could cost California a quarter of a billion dollars to clean up after this summer’s destructive wildfires.

Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration told lawmakers Friday that it’s pulling $83 million from the state budget reserve to continue its wildfire debris removal efforts. That’s on top of the $55 million it’s already spent.

The administration also signaled it’ll likely need to ask the Legislature to sign off on an additional $105 million dollars when lawmakers return in January.

The Valley Fire in Lake County and the Butte Fire in Amador and Calaveras counties burned more than 145,000 acres and destroyed more than 2,300 homes and other buildings.