wildfire

The County Fire Department asked CAL FIRE to do an independent review of the Balcom Fire, which preceded the 20,000 acre Mountain Fire.

The County made the move Friday. Ventura County downgraded the fire season status on Thursday.

The November 6, 2024, fire burned nearly 20,000 acres and destroyed 370 structures.

The fire reportedly burned 66 acres Thursday night, but mapping on Friday morning downsized the number to 13 acres.

Mop-up work continues on the 131,000-acre blaze in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties.

Firefighters have kept the fire from growing for the last few days.

Containment of the Gifford Fire is up to 95% as of midday Tuesday. The latest mapping shows a slight reduction in the burned area to just over 131,000 acres.

Backfires were used to try to keep the massive Gifford Fire from advancing into wilderness areas.

The fire started on August 7. It burned 5,370 acres and destroyed seven structures.

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