‘Extreme' California wildfire rages in hot weather — with only 21% of the inferno contained, threatening thousands
The Gifford Fire, which started Aug. 1, has prompting widespread evacuation orders and scorched more than 104,000 acres across San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, where evacuation orders and warnings are in place.
Nearly 3,600 firefighters are battling the flames amid hot, dry conditions.
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3 The Gifford Fire continues to burn through thousands of acres, becoming the state's largest blaze of the year and threatening thousands of homes and other areas near Los Padres National Forest in the central regions.
AP
'We have hot weather, and we have low relative humidity,' said Santa Barbara County Fire Department Capt. Scott Safechuck.
'So, we expect extreme fire behavior.'
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Gifford's destruction has already surpassed last month's Madre Fire in San Luis Obispo County, which burned 80,000 acres before containment.
Nearly 100 hand crews, 267 engines, 98 water tenders, 21 helicopters, and 142 bulldozers have been deployed, according to The Fresno Bee.
3 Approximately 3,600 firefighters are battling the blaze.
AP
3 The fire, which started on Aug. 1, has resulted in massive evacuation orders across the state.
REUTERS
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Flames continue to burn inside Los Padres National Forest, where officials reported 'two large smoke columns' Saturday, with the largest rising from an area crews have fought to control for two days.
Meanwhile, the Canyon Fire, which started Thursday afternoon, has burned more than 5,000 acres in Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
This was still just 28% contained on Saturday morning, but officials have called off the evacuation order in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
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Officials lifted some evacuation orders Friday as 400 firefighters worked under cooler conditions and with air support to slow the spread.
The causes of the California wildfires are still under investigation.
With Post wires
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