California is staring down soaring fuel costs and expanding fire danger, yet state leaders are sticking with an expensive, all-in wildfire strategy. Jet fuel prices have surged between 82% and 110% in just three months, a spike that is hammering industries that rely on aircraft But Cal Fire says its sprawling aerial firefighting operation will not scale back as wildfire season ramps up. That pledge comes with a hefty price tag. Firefighters battle the Palisades Fire as it burns during a windstorm on the west side of Los Angeles, California. Getty Images Gavin Newsom is seen at the 33rd Annual White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch in Washington, DC. Nathan Posner/Shutterstock Gavin Newsom’s proposed 2026–27 budge t includes $457 million for wildfire and forest resilience, adding to nearly $4 billion the state has committed since 2021. Newsom is required to release an updated version of the budget, known as the “May Revision,” by May 14.…