Gifford Fire Rages Across Central California, Injures 3 and Threatens Hundreds of Homes
A massive wildfire burning through central California’s Los Padres National Forest continued to spread rapidly on Monday, injuring at least three people and threatening hundreds of homes as firefighters battled extreme conditions.
Dubbed the Gifford Fire, the blaze has scorched over 260 square kilometers across Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. The fire remains completely uncontained, according to Cal Fire, and has forced the closure of major roads and the evacuation of livestock as it pushes into populated areas.
Among the injured is a motorist who suffered burn injuries after being overtaken by flames while fleeing his vehicle, said US Forest Service spokesperson Flemming Bertelson. Two contract workers assisting the firefighting effort were also injured when their ATV flipped during operations.
The fire, which broke out on Friday, started as at least four smaller blazes along State Route 166 between Santa Maria and Bakersfield. Fanned by high temperatures, dry vegetation, and shifting winds, the flames quickly merged and spread across steep terrain covered with chaparral and brush.
“That gave us multiple fronts, and the fire began moving in many directions,” Bertelson said. “It’s burning through extremely flammable vegetation and climbing steep slopes.”
Roughly 450 structures are currently at risk, and sections of the highway east of Santa Maria have been closed in both directions. Santa Maria, home to around 110,000 residents, lies about 105 kilometers northwest of Santa Barbara.
More than 1,000 firefighters are on the ground, supported by aerial water drops, racing to contain the flames before evening winds worsen conditions. The region, known for its rolling hills and vineyards, is dotted with California live oaks and sycamore trees, now under threat.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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