California Gifford Fire Reaches Megafire Status, Forcing Thousands to Evacuate

The Gifford Fire in California's Central Coast has become the state's largest wildfire of 2025, reaching 'megafire' status after burning over 104,000 acres with only 21% containment. The fire, which began along State Route 166, has been fueled by extreme heat, dry vegetation, and inaccessible terrain, and it is advancing into the fire-prone Garcia Wilderness of Los Padres National Forest. More than 2,200 firefighters are battling the blaze amid evacuation orders affecting over 600 residents and warnings for an additional 1,500 people across San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. Officials warn that worsening fire weather conditions, including triple-digit temperatures and low humidity, could intensify the fire risk, despite relatively calm winds. Injuries include three civilians and four firefighters, with the cause of the fire still under investigation. Evacuation zones have expanded westward, threatening thousands of homes and nearly 3,000 structures, while road closures and restricted access to parts of the national forest remain in effect.