Gifford Fire in Central California burns 72,000 acres, triggers mass evacuations, threatens hundreds of structures, and injures three people.

The Gifford Fire began on August 1, 2025, along State Route 166 in the Los Padres National Forest in Central California and quickly spread across rugged terrain. By August 4, 2025, the wildfire had destroyed over 72,000 acres, threatening Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, including areas about 30 miles east of Santa Maria. Authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders for regions south of Highway 166, covering Willow Springs Trailhead, Cottonwood Canyon Road, School House Road, and Upper Tepusquet Canyon, while evacuation warnings were announced for nearby zones such as Lower Tepusquet Canyon and areas east of Aliso Canyon Road. The fire grew from four smaller blazes that started west of Bakersfield and east of Santa Maria, forcing more than 1,000 firefighters to battle extreme heat, dry conditions, and unpredictable winds. Containment was only 3% by Monday morning and reached 5% by that evening, leaving 450 to 460 structures at risk. Three people were injured, including a motorist who suffered severe burns and two contract workers hurt in an ATV rollover. Ranchers moved livestock to safety, and firefighting planes carried out water drops through thick smoke that reduced visibility. Weather forecasts warned that hot, dry conditions and sundowner winds, with gusts up to 25 mph, could worsen fire activity during the week. Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire, which is burning near the area where the Madre Fire recently destroyed over 80,000 acres before full containment on July 26, 2025.

Central California faces a massive wildfire emergency as the Gifford Fire scorches over 72,000 acres.

Evacuation orders sweep through Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties as the Gifford Fire spreads.

Firefighters battle extreme heat and dangerous winds to contain the fast‑growing Gifford Fire.

Dozens of communities and hundreds of structures remain under threat from the Central California blaze.

Three people injured and ranchers race to save livestock as the wildfire intensifies.

Containment remains low as hot, dry conditions fuel the Gifford Fire’s rapid growth.

The cause of the devastating Central California wildfire is still under investigation.

A new inferno erupts near the area where the Madre Fire scorched 80,000 acres just last month.

BACKGROUND

Central California has faced increasing wildfire threats in recent years due to a combination of hot, dry weather and strong winds common in the region during summer months. These conditions create an environment where fires can start easily and spread rapidly across rugged landscapes covered with dry vegetation. The area affected by the current Gifford Fire has seen several major wildfires in the past decade, including the Madre Fire which burned over 80,000 acres just weeks before. Local communities are often forced to evacuate quickly to avoid danger as firefighting resources work against the challenging terrain and unpredictable weather. Climate change has also contributed to longer fire seasons and more intense wildfires, making firefighting efforts more difficult and increasing the risk to homes, wildlife, and natural resources in Central California.

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