Overview

• Fueled by extreme heat and gusty winds, the blaze has rapidly advanced across rugged terrain in southeastern San Luis Obispo County.
• More than 200 residents are under mandatory evacuation orders and roughly 50 structures lie in its path, with one building already destroyed.
• Firefighting efforts involve over 600 responders, including about 150 National Guard troops and numerous air tankers.
• A section of Highway 166 remains closed as crews work to prevent the fire from moving into populated areas near Santa Maria.
• Smoke plumes have reached Ventura and Santa Barbara counties and state forecasts warn that above-normal large-fire activity could persist through August.