A wildfire that started on the Central Coast on Friday has now burned more than 65,000 acres of land, with containment at only 3%.
The Gifford Fire is about 30 miles east of Santa Maria, with most of the land burned in the Los Padres National Forest. It's threatening some ranches and homes in the rural area between Santa Maria and New Cuyama. About 460 structures are considered to be at risk. Evacuation orders and warnings have impacted several areas.
Heat, wind, and rugged terrain have made the fire difficult to fight. More than a thousand people are involved in firefighting efforts.
Highway 166 remains closed from Santa Maria to New Cuyama.
Three injuries have been reported.
Resources
- Gifford Fire evacuation zone map
- Sign up for Santa Barbara County alerts
- Sign up for San Luis Obispo County alerts
Gifford Fire perimeter map
