Mopup work continues on the 131,000-acre-plus wildfire that's been burning on the Central Coast for weeks.
As of 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, containment of the Gifford Fire is up to 95%.
Most evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted, and some fire crews are being reassigned. But, with a heat wave predicted for inland areas Thursday and Friday, crews are concerned about the potential for flare-ups. Temperatures in the fire zone are expected to top 100 degrees.
Los Padres National Forest officials say some ranger districts will be closed temporarily due to fire damage and post-fire remediation work.
The Santa Lucia Ranger District will be closed to the public through February, and parts of the Mt. Pinos Ranger District will also be closed for the next six months.
The fire destroyed five structures. It started off Highway 166 on August 1, about 15 miles northeast of Santa Maria. Its cause is still under investigation.
