Latest news with #ScottSafechuck
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Gifford Fire Becomes California 'Megafire,' Forcing Thousands To Evacuate
A massive Southern California wildfire has now reached "megafire" status after becoming the state's largest inferno of 2025. Fueled by near-triple-digit heat, bone-dry conditions and inaccessible terrain, the Gifford Fire has exploded in size since igniting along Highway 166 one week ago. It has burned more than 104,000 acres, larger than the city of Atlanta, and is only 15% contained, according to Cal Fire. The National Weather Service warned that wildfire risk could intensify through the weekend as conditions worsen. Inland temperatures are expected to soar above 100 degrees, especially in the Sacramento Valley. 'We have hot weather, and we have low relative humidity,' Santa Barbara County Fire Dept. Capt. Scott Safechuck told the Associated Press. 'So we expect extreme fire behavior.' (MORE: Largest Wildfire In Decades Burns French Homes) More than 870 remote homes and other structures near the northern edge of Los Padres National Forest remain under threat as flames race through rugged canyons, ranches, and forestland. On Thursday, evacuation orders were expanded westward, bringing the total evacuation zone to 800 square miles across San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. The Gifford Fire has already overtaken July's Madre Fire, which was previously the state's largest of the year. The blaze began as at least four smaller fires along State Route 166 before merging into one inferno that has forced road closures and choked parts of southwest California with thick smoke. More than 2,200 personnel are battling the fire, which remains difficult to access due to steep terrain and remote locations. Winds are expected to stay relatively calm, offering some hope for containment, but fire officials say conditions remain extremely volatile. (MORE: Cloudburst Blamed For Village's Destruction) Residents near the evacuation zones are urged to stay alert, monitor official updates, and be prepared to leave quickly if conditions change. Additional evacuation orders are possible if the fire continues to move. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. lead editor Jenn Jordan explores how weather and climate weave through our daily lives, shape our routines and leave lasting impacts on our communities.
Yomiuri Shimbun
2 days ago
- 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
2 days ago
- 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.
The Journal
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Journal
A wildfire is burning in California even larger than the mega fires that scorched LA in January
RISING TEMPERATURES ARE posing new challenges for firefighters who have made incremental progress against a massive wildfire in central California which 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 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 only 9% of it contained. It has scorched more land than the extensives fires that caused chaos in Los Angeles and San Diego in January, when around 230 square kilometres of land was burned. Around 200,000 people had to evacuate during those fires, with 30 people killed and 18,000 homes and structures destroyed. Crews are working in steep, inaccessible terrain to fight the latest wildfire. Temperatures were around 35 degrees Celsius today and are anticipated to rise to above 38 degrees tomorrow, 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.' He said that winds are fortunately expected to remain relatively calm. However, wildfire risk will be elevated through the weekend across much of inland California as the heatwave intensifies. Advertisement Smoke from the Gifford Fire fills the sky over Los Padres National Forest PA PA 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 38 degrees 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. Additional reporting by Lauren Boland
Leader Live
2 days ago
- 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.
