The massive Gifford wildfire has now burned more than 99,000 acres of land on the Central Coast. As of 7 p.m. Thursday, containment stands at 15%,
The fire started on August 1 off Highway 166, about 15 miles northeast of Santa Maria. It quickly mushroomed in size. Highway 166 is closed, and more than 1,500 structures are threatened. Evacuations have been ordered for parts of the rural area, but no structures have been reported lost.
Rugged terrain and heat have complicated the efforts of firefighters to get a handle on the inferno. More than 3400 people are now involved in efforts to control the blaze.
