Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Gifford Fire Tops 72,000 Acres as Containment Remains at 7%

Nearly 2,000 firefighters under unified command battle dry fuels on rugged slopes with smoke drifting into San Diego County.

Ranchers work to evacuate cattle as the Gifford Fire burns nearby on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, in Los Padres National Forest, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Firefighters battle the Gifford Fire burning on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, in Los Padres National Forest, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Overview

  • The blaze threatens about 872 structures and has closed Highway 166 east of Santa Maria.
  • Mandatory evacuation orders cover multiple zones in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties with shelters at Benjamin Foxen Elementary School and the Cuyama Valley Family Resource Center.
  • At least three people have been injured, including a motorist hospitalized with burns and two contract workers hurt in an overturned ATV.
  • Nearly 2,000 firefighters are engaged in containment efforts alongside 115 engines, 39 hand crews, 23 dozers and 30 water tenders.
  • Smoke plumes from the fire have degraded air quality into San Diego County, prompting advisories for sensitive populations to limit outdoor exposure.