§ 53154 Emergency Response Cost Recovery

• •If you cause an emergency (like a fire or car crash), you have to pay for the cost of the emergency response (like firefighters or ambulances).
• •This cost is like a debt you owe to the government, and they can make you pay it just like a bill you agreed to.
• •You can't use insurance to cover this cost—no insurance will pay for it.

You start a fire in your backyard by accident, and the fire department has to come put it out.

You’ll have to pay for the fire department’s time and equipment. Your insurance won’t cover this bill, and the government can make you pay it like any other debt.