Apparently one of the California wildfires may have been caught early if it wasn't for California regulations. California, affectionately known as "the regulation state", has regulations that prevent firefighting air crews from flying after dark, reports the AP.

The first helicopter pilot to see the patch of flames that would become the catastrophic Cedar Fire radioed for aerial water drops, but state firefighters rejected his request because it came minutes after such flights had been grounded for the night.
[...]

The helicopter with the dump bucket flew within five miles of the fire, before state officials told it to turn back, Weldon said. The air tankers never took off. Weldon was told crews would attack the fire in the morning.

The AP notes that while the "safety" regulations are intended to save the lives of firefighter crews, "they were cold comfort to the son of one man who died hours after the county helicopter was called off."