VIDEO/PHOTOS: The Gifford Fire burning in California’s Central Coast in Santa Barbara County has reached “megafire” status and has become the state’s largest fire in 2025. As of Monday afternoon, the blaze has reached 119,214 acres and is 33% contained as more than 4,000 firefighters continue battling flames, according to Cal Fire. The fire burning in the rugged Garcia Wilderness of the Los Padres National Forest and is threatening nearly 3,000 structures. The California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 (CIIMT 5) says the fire is moving north and northwest toward the Huasna Valley and communities including Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo, Santa Margarita and Carrizo Plains.
Overnight, the fire crossed containment lines in the northeast, just south of Machesna Wilderness. The CIIMT 5 says crews will continue to reinforce lines along Avenales Ranch Road, the Salinas River bed, Hi Mountain Road, Caldwell Trout Creek, and the Huasna River. They are also “preparing to launch a 36-hour strategic firing operation,” which is set to begin in the evening. Ground and aerial crews hope to reduce vegetation ahead of the main fire. Incident meteorologists will also be monitoring conditions to help provide spot weather forecasts. The fire erupted on Aug. 1 around 3:44 p.m. on Highway 166 near Gifford Trailhead. Firefighters from Los Padres quickly responded to separate fires along the north side of the highway and, within 15 minutes, mapped over 800 acres. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
