U.S. Forest Service

The proposal would rescind a two-decade rule restricting permanent roads and logging in some mostly undeveloped national forest areas.

The Madre Fire grows to more than 35,000 acres as of midday Thursday. Highway 166 is closed between Santa Maria and New Cuyama.

The Madre Fire started Wednesday afternoon and quickly mushroomed in size. It closed the highway between Santa Barbara and Kern Counties.

Campfire ban in Santa Barbara County's front country extended two years, to February of 2026