Highway 166

Major Central Coast highway closed by Gifford Fire is now open

Lance Orozco

Highway 166 was shut down from Santa Maria to New Cuyama on August 1. Motorists will encounter delays on the reopened highway.

The Gifford Fire has now burned more than 118,000 acres of land in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties

Firefighters make progress over the weekend towards containment of major Central Coast wildfire

Lance Orozco

As of Monday morning, the 119,000-acre Gifford Fire was at 33% containment. Evacuation orders and warnings are in place for parts of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.

An aerial view of the Gifford Fire, which is burning in the Los Padres National Forest in both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties.

The fight continues: Firefighters trying to get the upper hand on a massive Central Coast wildfire

Lance Orozco

The Gifford Fire stands at just over 91,000 acres burned. Containment is at 9%.

The Gifford Fire topped the Madre Fire in size Tuesday, making it the largest wildfire in the Tri-Counties this year.

Still growing: Massive Gifford wildfire on Central Coast is now the largest in the region this year

Lance Orozco

It topped the 80,000-acre Madre Fire on Tuesday with no containment in sight.

Smoke from the Gifford Fire is causing health concerns in Santa Barbara County.

Smoke from the Gifford Fire poses a potential health threat

Lance Orozco

The biggest concern is in the Cuyama Valley, but all of Santa Barbara County is warned to be alert to the danger from smoke.

The Gifford Fire on the Central Coast could continue to grow for the next few days, with weather conditions expected to remian hot and dry.

Local News

Heat, low humidity, and rugged terrain make things tough for firefighters battling the Gifford Fire

Lance Orozco

The weather will be hotter and drier for the next few days, hampering efforts to control the fire northeast of Santa Maria.

The Gifford Fire burned nearly 40,000 acres of land on the Central Coast as of midday Sunday.

Central Coast wildfire still burning out of control

Lance Orozco

Gifford Fire has major portion of Highway 166 closed. More than 200 people evacuated.

An air tanker makes a drop on the Gifford wildfire.

Wildfire straddling Santa Barbara-San Luis Obispo County lines tops 25,000 acres burned

Lance Orozco

Fire closes Highway 166 between Santa Maria and New Cuyama. Area is sparsely populated, but some evacuations ordered.

Firefighters now have 100% containment of the Madre wildfire, which burned about 20 miles northwest of New Cuyama.

80,000-acre Central Coast wildfire fully contained

Lance Orozco

The cause of the Madre Fire, which burned north of Highway 166 in San Luis Obispo County, is still under investigation.

Firefighters now have 97% containment of the Madre brush fire, which has been burning since July 2 in San Luis Obispo County.

Mopup underway: Full containment close for 80,000 acre brush fire on Central Coast

Lance Orozco

Containment hits 97% for the Madre Fire, which is north of Highway 166 in San Luis Obispo County.