The Gifford blaze has escalated rapidly, injuring at least three individuals and putting over 450 buildings at risk. Despite efforts to control the wildfire, it remains largely uncontained, with only 3% of its perimeter secured.
A massive wildfire in central California has put hundreds of homes at risk as it ravages through the brush-covered hillsides of the Los Padres National Forest.
At least three individuals have sustained injuries, and over 450 structures are currently threatened by the Gifford fire, officials confirmed on Monday. The fire has already consumed more than 72,000 acres as of Monday evening. This rapid expansion is the result of several smaller fires merging since Friday near State Route 166 between Santa Maria and Bakersfield.
The wildfire spans across coastal areas of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, north of Los Angeles. By Monday night, firefighting efforts had managed to contain about 5% of the fire, as reported by the CalFire state agency. Earlier warnings had indicated that conditions could change swiftly due to unpredictable fire behavior, and forecasts predict hotter, drier weather which could further enhance the fire's growth.
More than 1,000 firefighters are currently battling the blaze, racing against time to control the flames before the expected sundowner winds, which could exacerbate the situation by dusk. The National Weather Service has forecasted gusts that could reach up to 25 mph in the affected area.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Among the injured, one motorist suffered burn injuries after exiting his vehicle and being engulfed by the fire, necessitating immediate hospitalization. Two contractors assisting the firefighting efforts were also injured when their all-terrain vehicle overturned.
Local ranchers have been forced to evacuate their cattle, while aircraft attempt to manage the rapidly spreading flames through water drops, as reported by the Associated Press.
Don Fregulia, an operations section chief for the California interagency incident management team, described the firefighting conditions as "extremely challenging" due to the difficult terrain in the San Rafael Wilderness area of the national forest. He noted that smoke was complicating visibility for aircraft operations, though some areas of the northern fire zone were experiencing clearer air, allowing for some progress in containment efforts.
A looming heatwave later this week threatens to increase fire risks, with temperatures expected to soar above 100°F in some parts of inland southern California from Wednesday through Saturday. This heat could also affect the northern regions of the state.
California continues to face an elevated fire risk following a warmer and drier spring, which left landscapes particularly vulnerable. While wildfire activity typically peaks towards the end of summer and into autumn, this year's fires have been notably more intense and frequent, as per CalFire reports.