Latest news with #Highway166
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Gifford Fire burns 80,000 acres, causes mandatory evacuations. See wildfire maps.
The Gifford Fire in Southern California has consumed over 80,000 acres and forced parts of two counties to be evacuated. The fire, located on Highway 166 northwest of Santa Maria, California, was burning on both sides of the highway, with more active spread on the south side of the road, according to Cal Fire. As of Tuesday morning, Aug. 5, the fire had consumed 82,567 acres in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, around 200 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The blaze was 7% contained, according to Cal Fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Gifford wildfire map Which areas are being evacuated? People under evacuation warnings face an "immediate threat to life," Cal Fire stated on its website: "This is a lawful order to LEAVE NOW." Areas under evacuation orders are also closed to public access. The map below shows areas under evacuation orders (red) and evacuation warnings (yellow), as of 11:20 a.m. PT, Aug. 5. To view the interactive version of the map, click here. The following areas in San Luis Obispo County are under mandatory evacuation orders, according to Cal Fire. To find your evacuation zone, click here. LPF-014 LPF-015 LPF-016 LPF-017 LPF-018 LPF-019 SLC-335 SLC-336 SLC-337 Areas in Santa Barbara County under mandatory evacuation orders are listed below. You can also search your address in this interactive map. LPF-165 SBC-159-A SBC-161-A SBC-163 SBC-167 SBC-169-A SBC-169-B Which areas are under evacuation warning? Areas that are under an evacuation warning face a "potential threat to life and/or property," Cal Fire stated on its website. "Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock, should leave now." The following areas are under evacuation warnings in San Luis Obispo County, according to Cal Fire. To find your evacuation zone, click here. SLC-225 SLC-239 SLC-240 SLC-262 SLC-264 SLC-297 SLC-298 SLC-311 SLC-312 SLC-334 LPF-011 LPF-013 Areas under evacuation warning in Santa Barbara County are listed below. You can also search your address in this interactive map. SBC-159-B SBC-161-B SBC-172 Air quality of California As the Canadian wildfires impact air quality in the central and eastern parts of the country, Southern California and parts of Arizona face similar issues as wildfires burn across the region. As of 1:25 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Aug. 5, areas near San Diego have been deemed "unhealthy for sensitive groups," according to AirNow. People with pre-existing medical conditions, like asthma, will be more sensitive to conditions that are deemed "unhealthy for sensitive groups." "Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects," according to AirNow. Air quality in surrounding areas, from Los Angeles to Phoenix, has been deemed "moderate," which is acceptable, but poses "a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution." Evacuation shelters for those affected by the Gifford Fire Anyone looking for assistance in sheltering can call the American Red Cross at 805-678-3073. For a list of more shelters evacuating large, small and domestic animals, visit Cal Fire's website for more information. Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gifford Fire maps show where evacuation orders, wildfires are active
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Yahoo
A baby tiger was reported on the side of a California highway. The CHP found something very different
The California Highway Patrol responded to a call this week of a possible baby tiger stranded on the side of a highway in San Luis Obispo County. But what they actually discovered was less feline and more feathery. The supposed cub was spotted along a remote stretch of Highway 166, which connects the Central Coast to the southern San Joaquin Valley, according to a CHP traffic log. A driver passing through the area Thursday afternoon reported what appeared to be a baby tiger on the roadside. A CHP officer sent to investigate the incident stumbled instead upon a dead hawk, not a tiger cub. The California Department of Transportation, which is responsible for removing dead animals from state highways, was notified about the deceased bird. It is unclear what caused the caller's zoological mix-up. Owning exotic animals like tigers is prohibited under California law, as they pose a threat to public safety and native wildlife, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Permits are exclusive to zoos, shelters, research facilities or educational institutions. The Big Cat Public Safety Act — a federal law enacted in 2022 — prevents unlicensed people from possessing, breeding and transporting big cats. A man and woman were charged in 2022 after purchasing a jaguar cub and transporting it from Texas to California for commercial activity. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
