Latest news with #MadreFire
New York Post
09-08-2025
- Climate
- New York Post
‘Extreme' California wildfire rages in hot weather — with only 21% of the inferno contained, threatening thousands
A southern California wildfire that has threatened thousands of homes is still only 21% contained, officials said Saturday, warning of the blaze's 'extreme' behavior amid low humidity and summer heat. 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. Advertisement 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.' Advertisement 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 Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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
Newsweek
09-08-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Gifford Fire Map, Update as California Blaze Hits Major Milestone
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Gifford fire in central California has burned more than 100,000 acres as of Friday, becoming the state's largest blaze of the year so far. Newsweek has contacted the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) for further comment via an email sent outside regular business hours. Why It Matters The fire is threatening thousands of homes and other structures near the Los Padres National Forest and has prompted widespread evacuation orders in the Golden State. Five firefighters and three civilians had been injured as of Friday afternoon, according to a Friday update from CAL FIRE. What To Know The Gifford fire, which broke out on August 1 along Highway 166, has burned more than 104,000 acres of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, according to CAL FIRE. It was 21 percent contained as of Friday evening. The fire "is burning actively on both sides of the highway with more active spread on the south side," CAL FIRE said in a situation summary on Friday. At least 3,600 personnel are battling the blaze. It erupted from multiple smaller fires between Santa Maria and Bakersfield. A map shows the spread of the Gifford Fire as of August 8. A map shows the spread of the Gifford Fire as of August 8. CAL FIRE It has now surpassed the Madre Fire, which erupted last month in southeastern San Luis Obispo County, and burned more than 80,000 acres before it was contained. Evacuation orders and warnings are in effect for multiple zones in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. Full details on the orders and warnings can be found on the CAL FIRE website. Meanwhile, the Canyon fire, which ignited on Thursday afternoon, has burned more than 5,000 acres in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. It was 29 percent contained as of Friday evening. A firefighter watches as the Gifford Fire burns on August 6 in Los Padres National Forest, California. A firefighter watches as the Gifford Fire burns on August 6 in Los Padres National Forest, People Are Saying The U.S. Forest Service-Los Padres National Forest said in an update on Friday evening update that "due to erratic fire behavior, residents should watch for changing conditions in their area." The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services wrote on X on Friday: "As firefighters battle the #CanyonFire and #GiffordFire, it's important to stay alert NOW and throughout fire season. If told to evacuate, don't wait." CAL FIRE wrote on X on Friday: "California is under a heat wave, bringing hot, dry, and windy conditions, making wildfires more likely to occur and to spread fast. When temps soar, even a tiny spark can ignite disaster." The post added that Californians can protect themselves, their homes and their communities by securing trailer chains to avoid sparks on the road, avoiding the use of spark-producing equipment, not parking or driving over dry grass and avoiding open flame activities like grilling campfires. What Happens Next? The cause of the fires remain under investigation. Meanwhile, the U.S. Forest Service-Los Padres National Forest wrote in its update on Friday that hot and dry conditions will continue across the area through early next week. "Temperatures will climb into the 90s to around 100 degrees while humidity drops into the teens and single digits," it wrote. "With typical diurnal winds anticipated, elevated fire weather conditions can be expected into early next week."
Yomiuri Shimbun
07-08-2025
- Climate
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Massive Central California Wildfire Keeps Growing and Becomes State's Largest Blaze of the Year
SANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) — Rising temperatures on Wednesday posed new challenges for firefighters who have made incremental progress against a massive wildfire in central California that injured four people as it became the biggest blaze in the state so far this year. More than 870 remote homes and other structures at the northern edge of Los Padres National Forest are threatened by the Gifford Fire, which grew only slightly overnight after burning out of control for days. The fire has scorched at least 131 square miles (339 square kilometers) of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, with just 9% containment. It surpassed the 126-square mile (326-square-kilometer) Madre Fire, which erupted last month in southeastern San Luis Obispo County, as the state's largest fire of 2025. Crews working in steep, inaccessible terrain will be dealing with temperatures in the mid-90s (35 Celsius) on Wednesday and above 100 (38 Celsius) on Thursday, said Capt. Scott Safechuck with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. 'We have hot weather, and we have low relative humidity,' Safechuck said Wednesday. 'So we expect extreme fire behavior.' Luckily, winds are expected to remain relatively calm, he said. Wildfire risk will be elevated through the weekend across much of inland California as the heat wave intensifies. The southern part of the state has seen very little rain, drying out vegetation and making it 'ripe to burn,' the National Weather Service for Los Angeles warned in a statement. Triple-digit temperatures (around 38 Celsius) are forecast for the Sacramento Valley. A dozen major blazes are burning statewide, and officials warn the threat will only grow in August and September, typically the most dangerous months for wildfires. Across the Sierra and northern parts of California, months of little to no rain are 'pushing conditions toward critical levels faster than usual,' according to a wildfire forecast by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire. 'In Southern California, the threat is driven by persistent drought, high grass loads, and weakening coastal moisture,' Cal Fire said. More than 2,200 personnel are battling the Gifford Fire, which grew out of at least four smaller fires that erupted Friday along State Route 166, forcing closures in both directions east of Santa Maria, a city of about 110,000 people. The causes of the fires are under investigation. Flames are racing through a vast, mostly unpopulated region that includes forestland, ranches, large canyon properties and agricultural parcels growing wine grapes and strawberries. The weather service warned of health risks from spreading smoke that could affect much of southwest California. Officials reported four injuries, including a firefighter who was treated for dehydration. Over the weekend, a motorist was hospitalized with burn injuries after getting out of his vehicle and being overrun by flames. And two contract employees assisting firefighters were also hurt when their all-terrain vehicle overturned.
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Business Standard
07-08-2025
- Climate
- Business Standard
Massive California wildfire grows, becomes state's largest in 2025
Rising temperatures on Wednesday posed new challenges for firefighters who have made incremental progress against a massive wildfire in central California that has injured four people as it has become the biggest blaze in the state so far this year. More than 870 remote homes and other structures at the northern edge of Los Padres National Forest are threatened by the Gifford Fire, which grew only slightly overnight after burning out of control for days. The fire has scorched at least 339 square kilometres of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, with just 9 per cent containment. It surpassed the 326-square-kilometer Madre Fire, which erupted last month in southeastern San Luis Obispo County, as the state's largest fire of 2025. Crews working in steep, inaccessible terrain will be dealing with temperatures in the mid-90s (35 Celsius) on Wednesday and above 100 (38 Celsius) on Thursday, said Capt. Scott Safechuck with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. We have hot weather, and we have low relative humidity, Safechuck said Wednesday. So we expect extreme fire behaviour. Luckily, winds are expected to remain relatively calm, he said. Wildfire risk will be elevated through the weekend across much of inland California as the heat wave intensifies. The southern part of the state has seen very little rain, drying out vegetation and making it ripe to burn, the National Weather Service for Los Angeles warned in a statement. Triple-digit temperatures (around 38 Celsius) are forecast for the Sacramento Valley. More than 2,200 personnel are battling the Gifford Fire, which grew out of at least four smaller fires that erupted Friday along State Route 166, forcing closures in both directions east of Santa Maria, a city of about 110,000 people. The causes of the fires are under investigation. Flames are racing through a vast, mostly unpopulated region that includes forestland, ranches, large canyon properties and agricultural parcels growing wine grapes and strawberries. The weather service warned of health risks from spreading smoke that could affect much of southwest California. Officials reported four injuries, including a firefighter who was treated for dehydration. Over the weekend, a motorist was hospitalised with burn injuries after getting out of his vehicle and being overrun by flames. And two contract employees assisting firefighters were also hurt when their all-terrain vehicle overturned.
Leader Live
06-08-2025
- Climate
- Leader Live
Massive wildfire becomes California's largest blaze of the year
More than 870 remote homes and other structures at the northern edge of Los Padres National Forest are threatened by the Gifford Fire, which grew slightly overnight after burning out of control for days. The fire has scorched at least 131 square miles of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, with just 9% containment. It surpassed the 126 square mile Madre Fire, which erupted last month in south-eastern San Luis Obispo County, as the state's largest fire of 2025. Crews working in steep, inaccessible terrain will be dealing with temperatures around 35C on Wednesday and above 38C on Thursday, said Captain Scott Safechuck with Santa Barbara County Fire Department. 'We have hot weather, and we have low relative humidity,' he said. 'So we expect extreme fire behaviour.' Luckily, winds are expected to remain relatively calm, he added. Wildfire risk will be elevated through the weekend across much of inland California as the heatwave intensifies. The southern part of the state has seen very little rain, drying out vegetation and making it 'ripe to burn', the National Weather Service for Los Angeles warned in a statement. Temperatures around 38C are forecast for the Sacramento Valley. More than 2,200 personnel are battling the Gifford Fire, which grew out of at least four smaller fires that erupted on Friday along State Route 166, forcing closures in both directions east of Santa Maria, a city of about 110,000 people. The causes of the fires are under investigation. Flames are racing through a vast, mostly unpopulated region that includes forests, ranches, large canyon properties and agricultural parcels growing wine grapes and strawberries. The weather service warned of health risks from spreading smoke that could affect much of south-west California. Officials reported four injuries, including a firefighter who was treated for dehydration. Over the weekend, a motorist was treated in hospital for burn injuries after getting out of his vehicle and being overrun by flames, and two contract employees assisting firefighters were hurt when their all-terrain vehicle overturned.
