Gifford Fire in California grows to more than 72K acres as firefighters battle blaze

Fire crews were battling a massive wildfire in central California on Aug. 4 as the blaze spread across the Sierra Madre mountains, injuring at least three people and threatening hundreds of structures.

The Gifford Fire, which broke out on Aug. 1, is located within the Los Padres National Forest in Solvang, California, impacting residents in the coastal counties of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. Nearly 2,000 firefighters were struggling to contain the fire that had already scorched more than 72,000 acres and was only 3% contained as of 7 p.m. local time on Aug. 4, according to Cal Fire.

Evacuation orders and warnings were issued for areas in the two counties, and State Route 166 was closed due to flames on both sides of the road, according to Cal Fire. The agency said the blaze threatened about 460 structures, and officials have confirmed at least three injuries as a result of the fire.

One person suffered burn injuries and was transported by helicopter to Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria in northern Santa Barbara County for treatment, Cal Fire said. Two contractor employees assisting firefighters sustained minor to moderate injuries in a UTV rollover incident and were also taken to Marian Regional Medical Center.

The fire has affected the air quality in the region, and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District issued an air quality alert “until conditions improve” on Aug. 3. The warning was still in place on Aug. 4.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but authorities said the blaze grew out of multiple smaller fires along State Route 166 between the cities of Santa Maria and Bakersfield. The fire is also situated just west of the Madre Fire burn area, which burned over 80,000 acres and was fully contained by July 26, according to Cal Fire.

Fire crews challenged by steep, rugged terrain

Cal Fire previously reported that the majority of the fire was burning south of State Route 166. The agency noted that the blaze was creating significant challenges for crews due to “active flame fronts in steep and rugged terrain.”

In an earlier update on Aug. 4, Cal Fire said the fire was active “well into the night” but firefighters were able to make progress to the north and constructed dozer lines that connected with the Madre Fire. Crews were also working to build containment lines to keep the fire in the Sierra Madre mountains.

“Today is expected to be another active day, particularly as the fire aligns with topographical features along grass and brush-covered hillsides,” according to Cal Fire. “The main priorities for today include improving containment lines on the northern flank to prevent the fire from progressing.”

Weather conditions on Aug. 4 were mostly sunny and smoky, Cal Fire said, adding that warm and dry conditions were expected to continue later in the week. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-80s to mid-90s.

Latest wildfire in the U.S.

The National Interagency Fire Center warned in July that “fire activity is high across the country,” with hot, dry, and windy weather fueling wildfire conditions. On Aug. 4, the center reported that there were 39 large fires, including five new ones, burning in the United States.

In California, at least seven smaller fires erupted across the state on Aug. 4, according to Cal Fire. The largest of those blazes included two fires in Southern California.

The Rosa Fire in Riverside County started at about 12:27 p.m. local time and has burned nearly 1,200 acres, Cal Fire said. In San Bernardino County, the Gold Fire began at around 9:23 a.m. local time and has scorched 348 acres.

See map of Gifford wildfire

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gifford Fire in California grows to more than 72K acres: See the map