The Gifford Fire has exploded to over 65,000 acres as of Monday, Aug. 4, prompting evacuation orders in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties as Californians navigate multiple fires across the state this past weekend.
The fire has been 3% contained as of the morning of Aug. 4, according to the U.S. Forest Service Los Padres National Forest. More than a thousand personnel are assigned to a fire that’s threatening hundreds of structures and that officials said has injured three people, including a person treated for burn injuries.
Destruction in the area began when Los Padres National Forest firefighters responded to reports of multiple wildfires along Highway 166 west of Cuyama on Aug. 1, according to an incident report. Officials said that they expect for Aug. 4 to be “another active day” as firefighters work to improve containment lines to prevent the fire progressing further north.
Here’s an overview of the Gifford Fire, as well as updates for two other fires that broke out this weekend in Alameda and Lake counties.
Where is the Gifford Fire in California?
The Gifford Fire rages through Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025.
The Gifford Fire is burning within the Los Padres National Forest and is northeast of Santa Maria in Santa Barbara County. Officials noted over the weekend how the fire was near the Madre Fire burn scar. That wildfire, which broke out early July, burned over 80,000 acres in San Luis Obispo County.
Gifford Fire prompts Highway 166 road closure
Highway 166 is closed from the north junction of the 101-freeway in Santa Maria to the southern junction of Highway 33 in Maricopa, according to Caltrans.
What is the Gifford Fire cause?
The cause of the fire is under investigation, officials said.
What to know about the Lake Fire in Clearlake
A wildfire that officials responded to in the afternoon of Aug. 3 and prompted evacuation orders for some parts of Lake County is at 340 acres as of 7 a.m., said Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit. The Lake Fire, which is off Eastlake Drive in Clearlake, is 40% contained.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, and an assessment into any structures destroyed or damaged by the fire is ongoing, the Cal Fire unit said on Aug. 3.
What to know about the Eden Fire in Alameda County
The Alameda County Fire Department responded to a vegetation fire on the westbound 580-freeway at Eden Canyon Road in Castro Valley at 5:15 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 3. Forward progress of the fire, which was started by a car fire, was stopped at just under 19 acres, Alameda County Fire reported.
Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Gifford Fire news: 65,000 acres burned east of Santa Maria