Nearly a month after it started, the last evacuation warnings for a major Central Coast wildfire have been lifted.
The Gifford Fire has burned 131,000 acres of land in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties, mostly in the Los Padres National Forest.
The fire started on August 1 off Highway 166, about 15 miles northeast of Santa Maria. At its peak, thousands of structures were threatened, but only five were lost. No structures are still considered to be at risk.
More than 1,300 people are still involved with mop-up efforts, with containment at 95%. While all evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted, the area remains completely closed to recreational activities.
A community meeting to update people on the fire is set for 6 p.m. Friday at the SLO Veterans Hall in San Luis Obispo.
