Update: Crews hold Gifford Fire within lines in Garcia Wilderness
Update posted Aug. 14:
Photo by Rick Evans.
– The Gifford Fire had burned 130,440 acres and was 41 percent contained as of Thursday morning, according to fire officials.
A virtual community meeting is scheduled for Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m. to provide updates and answer questions. The meeting will be broadcast on Los Padres National Forest Incident Management’s YouTube channel and LPF Facebook page. Questions may be emailed in advance to 2025.gifford@firenet.gov.
Highway 166 is open. Construction in various locations will require flagging operations with one-way reversing traffic control led by a pilot car, and travelers should expect delays of up to one hour.
On Wednesday, crews conducted strategic firing operations in the northwest corner of the Garcia Wilderness, progressing along the south side of Garcia Ridge through Caldwell Trout Creek and Hi Mountain Road. Crews had prepared the area in recent days for anticipated fire activity and were engaged in hotspot detection and suppression, supported by water-dropping helicopters on steep ridges and drainages.
On the southern end of the fire, mop-up and patrol continued to address remaining hot spots. Similar work was taking place along the east and west sides of the perimeter. Crews planned to remain active in the Garcia Wilderness overnight to hold the fire within established lines and monitor areas of concern.
A gradual cooling trend is forecast into the weekend, with high temperatures in the mid to upper 80s. Humidity is expected to increase, with minimum values around 30 percent. Ridgetop winds are forecast to shift to southwesterly due to onshore flow.
Evacuations
Residents are advised to monitor conditions due to erratic fire behavior.
In Santa Barbara County, evacuation orders remain in effect for the burn area northeast of Pine Canyon Road and south of Highway 166; parts of the Sierra Madre Mountains south of Highway 166 and north of the Sisquoc River; and south of Highway 166, west of Miranda Canyon, east of Sierra Madre Road, and northwest of Kelsey Canyon west of Bates Canyon.
Evacuation warnings remain in effect for areas south of Highway 166, east of Cottonwood Canyon Road, and west of Alisos Canyon Road; south of Highway 166, east of Miranda Canyon, west of Cottonwood Canyon Road, and across the Kelsey Canyon Range just west of Bates Canyon; south of Highway 166, east of Tepusquet Road, north of Colson Canyon Road, and just east of Pine Canyon Road; lower Tepusquet Canyon east of Tepusquet Road and north of the Sisquoc River; north of Foxen Canyon Road/Forest Route 10N06, east of Tepusquet Road, and south of the Sisquoc River; and north of Foxen Canyon Road/Zaca Lake Road and south of the Sisquoc River.
In San Luis Obispo County, evacuation information is available at ReadySlo.org/zones or ReadySlo.org/wea, or by calling (805) 543-2444.
Evacuation shelters are located at Santa Margarita Community Hall, 22501 I St., Santa Margarita; and The New Life Student Center, 941 N Oak Park Way, Pismo Beach, which is on standby as needed. The American Red Cross can be contacted for assistance at (805) 678-3073.
Animal care resources include the County Animal Services Disaster Hotline at (805) 681-4332 for large animals; the Horse Emergency Evacuation Team at (805) 466-7457; and The Elks Rodeo Grounds, 4040 Highway 101, Santa Maria, with entry at Morningside Drive Gate 2.
Closures
Portions of the Los Padres National Forest are closed for public safety and natural resource protection from Aug. 8, 2025, to Feb. 8, 2026. The closure includes the entire Santa Lucia Ranger District and part of the Mount Pinos Ranger District. Details are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/lospadres/alerts/gifford-fire-forest-order-05-07-53-25-13.
Road closures are in place for Huasna Townsite Road, Huasna Road, Lopez Drive, Hi Mountain Road, Park Hill Road, River Road, Pozo Road, Avenales Ranch Road and Santa Margarita Lake Road.
Click here to see the current status of the fire.
Update posted Aug. 12:
Update: Local emergency declared due to Gifford Fire
– The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors has issued a proclamation of a local emergency as the Gifford Fire entered its 11th day, according to reports.
The fire, California’s largest of the year, has burned 122,065 Acres as of Tuesday morning, and remains 33 percent contained.
The county also issued new evacuation orders for areas around Pozo Road, Santa Margarita Lake, Parkhill Road, and River Road, west of the Los Padres National Forest.
Click here to see the current status of the fire.
Update posted Aug. 11:
Update: Gifford Fire now 33-percent contained
– The Gifford Fire has grown to 118,068 acres and is now 33 percent contained as of Monday morning.
Click here to see the current status of the fire.
In partnership with emergency officials, the American Red Cross Pacific Coast Chapter has relocated the evacuation shelter from Arroyo Grande High School to New Life Student Center(941 N Oak Park Way, Pismo Beach) for evacuees displaced by the Gifford Fire burning in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.
Red Cross volunteers will provide evacuees safe refuge from the wildfire, water, meals, snacks, health services, and additional resources. The Red Cross encourages anyone who needs assistance to come to the shelter, and residents in nearby areas to be ready to evacuate. Small pets are welcome at the shelter, and pet owners are encouraged to bring water, food, pet carriers, and leashes if possible.
Since the Gifford Fire began, Red Cross disaster workers have been working closely with government officials and partners to make sure people will have a safe place to stay, food to eat and critical relief supplies as needed at multiple Temporary Evacuation Points and shelters throughout the affected region.
Anyone who needs a safe place to stay can find shelter information on redcross.org, the free Red Cross Emergency app, or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767). Search “American Red Cross” in app stores or go to redcross.org/apps.
You can also find information by following your local Red Cross and local emergency officials on social media, signing up for free emergency alerts from your local government or by monitoring local news.
Red Cross shelters are open to everyone in need, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability or citizenship status. All disaster assistance is free.
No type of identification is required to enter a shelter — just names and where the evacuees were living before the disaster.
If possible, the Red Cross encourages people who plan to stay in a shelter to bring prescription medications, extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene supplies, other comfort items and important documents. Don’t forget to bring any special items for children, such as diapers, formula, and toys, or for family members who have unique needs.
A wildfire can spread very quickly, leaving you little time to get to safety. Be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice and obey all instructions from officials. Don’t return home until officials say it’s safe to do so.
Tips from the Red Cross:
- Know where you will go, how you will get there and where you will stay. Plan well in advance if you’ll need help leaving or use public transportation.
- If you have a car, ensure the gas tank is full and park it facing the direction of your evacuation route.
- Keep your pets in one room, so you can find them if you need to evacuate quickly.
- Monitor local weather and fires near you. Sign up for free emergency alerts from your local government. Stay up to date on evacuation routes and road closures that could impact your plans.
- If you feel you are in danger leave immediately. You might not get an official notice to evacuate.
- Limit exposure to smoke and dust by closing windows and doors to prevent outside smoke from getting in.
- To help keep your indoor air clean, don’t use anything that burns, such as candles, fireplaces and gas stoves.
How to help: To ensure people have the help they need, the Red Cross depends on public support. Please click, text or call to support Red Cross Disaster Relief and help people affected by disasters like fires and countless other crises. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a donation.
Sign up to become a volunteer to help with future wildfires at redcross.org/volunteer.
Update posted Aug. 7:
Gifford Fire now 15-percent contained
– The Gifford Fire, burning in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, had grown to 96,106 acres and was 15% contained as of Thursday morning, according to InciWeb.
The fire began as multiple blazes northeast of Santa Maria along Highway 166 on the afternoon of Aug. 1. The cause has not been specified.
Highway 166 remains closed between Highway 101 and the southern junction of Highway 33, according to the California Department of Transportation.
Air quality is expected to be most affected in eastern areas of San Luis Obispo County, including the Carrizo Plain and Cuyama Valley, as well as in parts of the southern county from the Five Cities area to Nipomo.
Click here to see the current status of the fire.
Original report posted Aug. 4:
Gifford Fire burns 49,761 acres in SLO, and Santa Barbara counties
– The Gifford Fire has burned approximately 49,761 acres in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties and is 3% contained as of 7:30 p.m. Sunday, down from 5% earlier in the day, according to fire officials.
The fire is burning both north and south of Highway 166 near Gifford Trailhead, about 30 miles east of Santa Maria. Highway 166 East is closed between Highway 101 and Highway 33.
California Interagency Incident Management Team 5, Cal Fire, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office are in unified command for the incident.
A temporary evacuation point opened Saturday evening in Santa Maria for residents affected by the fire. The San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services reported that Benjamin Foxen Elementary School, located at 4949 Foxen Canyon Road, is open to evacuees. American Red Cross personnel are on site.
Click here for evacuation information.
