Officials are planning a community meeting for Friday night to update people on the nearly 100,000-acre Gifford Fire, which has been burning for more than a week on the Central Coast. The fire has burned 99,232 acres and is 15% contained.
It started last Friday afternoon off Highway 166, northeast of Santa Maria. The fire's growth has slowed for the past few days. The most active part of the blaze has been its northwest corner, which prompted additional evacuation warnings and orders.
More than 2,900 structures are considered at risk, although the fire is burning in isolated areas of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. No structures have been reported lost.
The community meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Branch Elementary School in Arroyo Grande.
