Gifford, Los Padres

Gifford, Los Padres NF, USFS. Fifteen miles northeast of Santa Maria, CA. Grass and chaparral. Minimal fire behavior with smoldering. Infrastructure threatened. Area, road and trail closures in effect.

August 30, 2025 at 8:51 AM

Mop-up operations have reduced isolated heat near the fires edge. However, with seasonal hot and dry conditions, heavier fuels continue to produce isolated smokes well within the perimeter. This activity is not expected to test control features. Crews continue to conduct mop-up activities and patrol sections of line that are not yet contained.

August 27, 2025 at 8:12 AM

Milder weather conditions have helped firefighters to make good progress towards containment. In the northwest portion of the fire, crews continue strengthening fire lines where, steep ground and heavy oak understory presents significant challenge to control efforts. Across the entire fire, crews address areas of concern that potentially threaten containment lines. Crews continue to make good progress with suppression repair efforts to restore roads, trails, and any damage to the forest in general. In addition, crews are initiating “back haul” of equipment and supplies out of the fire area and will continue for several days.

August 26, 2025 at 8:25 AM

Temperatures were a few degrees cooler with highs generally in the lower to mid 90s. Thunderstorm buildups once again remained just east of the fire.

FORECAST: Similar conditions for Tuesday with afternoon thunderstorm buildups visible to the east, while winds stay mostly light and terrain driven.

Planned Actions

In all areas of the fire, aggressive engagement in mop-up operations. Utilize rotary wing aircraft to target heat and knockdown flare-ups on containment lines. UAS and other IR heat detection platforms will identify and target heat sources near containment lines. Reinforce containment lines and maintain rapid response capability for spot fires utilizing heavy equipment. Support the local forest in initial attack to prevent new fire starts from escalating and impacting incident operations.

Evaluate and implement suppression repair where alternative and contingency lines are no longer needed. Work alongside resource advisors and tribal representatives to protect cultural and natural resources during suppression repair.

August 25, 2025 at 8:56 AM

Gifford Fire officials will host a virtual community meeting on Monday evening at 6 PM to provide an update on the current situation and address questions. It will be broadcast on Los Padres National Forest (LPF) Incident Management YouTube and LPF Facebook.Please send any questions you would like addressed in the meeting to 2025.gifford@firenet.gov ahead of time.

Mop-up operations have reduced isolated heat near the fires edge. However, with hotter and drier conditions an uptick in activity well interior has been observed. This activity should not test control features, but may be visible within the surrounding communities. Crews continue to conduct mop-up activities and have decreased the number of smoldering heat sources near sections of line that are not yet contained. South of Highway 166, the heat sources located well within the fire perimeter remain isolated.

August 22, 2025 at 8:06 AM

Mop-up operations and increased relative humidity reduced isolated heat near the fires edge. On the northwest flank, crews conducting mop-up activities have decreased the number of smoldering heat sources near sections of line that are not yet contained. South of Highway 166, the heat sources located well within the fire perimeter remain isolated.

Planned actions: In all areas of the fire, aggressive engagement in mop-up operations. Utilize rotary wing aircraft to target heat and knockdown flare-ups on containment lines. UAS and other IR heat detection platforms will identify and target heat sources near containment lines. Reinforce containment lines and maintain rapid response capability for spot fires utilizing heavy equipment. Support the local forest in initial attack to prevent new fire starts from escalating and impacting incident operations.

Evaluate and implement suppression repair where alternative and contingency lines are no longer needed. Work alongside resource advisors and tribal representatives to protect cultural and natural resources during suppression repair.

August 21, 2025 at 9:14 AM

All remaining warnings and orders for Santa Barbra County were lifted yesterday afternoon. For a complete list of all current evacuations, visit the official website for Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Residents should remain alert and drive carefully as firefighters and heavy equipment continue working in the area.

Current Situation: The fire perimeter remains the same with no change in acreage. Fire managers are using all tools available to increase containment lines and extinguish hotspots. One of the tools being utilized is a specific aircraft used to capture infrared images. These images help direct crews to remaining heat sources needing to be extinguished. Suppression repair work continues on both the North and South ends of the fire to mitigate the impacts of firefighting operations.

In preparation for a red flag warning event, some crews have been identified to respond to any initial attack, should there be a new fire in the area. Although there is a prediction of increased temperatures and a decrease in relative humidity over the next several days, all crews will remain committed to suppression and/or repair activities.

Weather: A Red Flag Warning and Extreme Heat Warning are in effect from Thursday through Saturday with temperatures predicted to reach between 95˚to 110˚.

August 19, 2025 at 11:22 AM

This morning, management of the Gifford Fire transitioned from Unified Command to Complex Interagency Incident Management Team 8, which assumed leadership from Team 5 and CalFire. The priority continues to be public and firefighter safety, stabilizing the land, and supporting recovery following firefighting operations. Area residents and visitors may call the public information center at 805-308-5533 with questions or concerns.

Several downgrades and cancellations of evacuations in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties were announced yesterday. Refer to the Evacuations section below for more details. For a complete list of all current evacuations, visit the official website for Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Residents should remain alert as firefighters and heavy equipment continue working in the area. Please drive carefully, watch for crews on roads and trails, and be mindful around any suppression repair work still in progress. Your caution helps keep both you and our firefighters safe as recovery continues.

Current Situation: On Monday, the Gifford Fire remained within its established footprint, with no new growth observed. Crews continued mop-up and patrol around the fire’s perimeter, supported by infrared flights to detect lingering heat sources near control lines and deep within the interior. Suppression repair work also advanced across the southern end of the fire to mitigate the impacts of firefighting operations. In addition, CalFire responded to a new nearby fire south of Atascadero. While unrelated to the Gifford Fire, water-dropping helicopters assigned to the incident assisted with initial attack from the nearby helibase at Santa Margarita.

Today, crews will build on that progress by continuing mop-up and using IR technology to identify and mitigate isolated hot spots. Suppression repair will remain a priority, with crews restoring natural grade, re-establishing drainage features, and returning trails to a more natural condition.

Weather: A gradual warming trend is expected throughout this week, with high temperatures likely reaching 100 degrees on Thursday and Friday for portions of the fire area. Humidity will drop into the teens as a result each afternoon. Winds are not expected to be gusty; however, elevated critical fire weather conditions will persist from Thursday through Friday. These will mainly be due to hot temperatures, high mixing heights, and dry fuels.

August 18, 2025 at 8:02 AM

For the fourth night, relative humidity remained elevated, and ongoing suppression work reduced the amount of isolated heat along the fire perimeter. Strong northeast winds challenged ridge top control lines and caused more visible smoldering embers deep within the fire’s boundaries; however, these winds did not result in any spotting beyond the perimeter.

A warming trend is expected throughout the coming week as the air becomes progressively drier. Elevated critical fire weather conditions are possible from Thursday through Friday.

August 17, 2025 at 9:06 AM

Gifford Fire officials will host a virtual community meeting Sunday evening from 6 to 7 PM to provide an update on the current situation and address questions. It will be broadcast on Los Padres National Forest (LPF) Incident Management YouTube and LPF Facebook. Please send any questions you would like addressed in the meeting to 2025.gifford@firenet.gov ahead of time.

There have been multiple downgrades and cancellations regarding evacuations and road openings in San Luis Obispo County. For more details, please refer to the Evacuations section below. To find a complete list of all current evacuations, visit the official websites for Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. As residents return to previously evacuated areas, safety remains our top priority. Please drive cautiously, as emergency crews and utility workers will still be working in the area.

Current Situation: Overnight, strong winds at the ridge tops tested the containment lines.  Crews observed smoldering embers and reinforced fire lines up to 200 feet inside the perimeter. Higher humidity during the night, combined with the ongoing efforts of the firefighters, prevented any growth of the fire. Additionally, the reported fire acreage was reduced based on more accurate mapping.

Today, firefighters will concentrate on mop-up operations. They will carefully inspect the edges of the affected area to find any smoldering embers, burning tree stumps, or hot ash pits. Crews will also continue to remove excess equipment and supplies, patrol the area, and address any hazardous trees or other safety concerns. Water-dropping helicopters remain on standby to assist if necessary.

On the southern end of the fire, crews are carrying out suppression repair—stabilizing dozer lines, handlines, roads, and trails that were disturbed during firefighting. This work helps prevent erosion and begins the process of restoring the landscape. These efforts are guided by a Resource Advisory Team, a group of specialists who work with firefighters to protect natural and cultural resources. The Team ensures that repair work is done in ways that are effective for both fire recovery and long-term land management.

Weather: Sunday will bring cooler conditions once again, with high temperatures expected to remain mostly in the 80s. Humidity levels will stay elevated, though minimum values may reach 30%. Breezy ridgetop winds are possible again Sunday night. A gradual warming trend is likely throughout next week.

August 14, 2025 at 8:21 AM

Gifford Fire officials will host a virtual community meeting Thursday evening from 6 to 7 PM to provide an update on the current situation and address questions. It will be broadcast on Los Padres National Forest (LPF) Incident Management YouTube and LPF Facebook. Please send any questions you would like addressed in the meeting to 2025.gifford@firenet.gov ahead of time.

Highway 166 is NOW OPEN. Construction at various locations will result in flagging operations with one-way reversing traffic control led by a pilot car. Travelers should expect delays of up to one hour.

CURRENT SITUATION Today’s most critical work occurred in the northwest corner of the Garcia Wilderness, where the strategic firing operation is ongoing. Crews progressed along the south side of Garcia Ridge, working through Caldwell Trout Creek and Hi Mountain Road. This area consists of steep, rugged terrain where crews have spent the past few days preparing for the anticipated fire activity. Following the firing operation, crews were actively engaged in looking for hotspots and any areas of concern, aided by water-dropping helicopters on steep ridges and drainages. 

On the southern end of the fire, mop-up and patrol continued, where crews looked to extinguish remaining hot spots. Similar work is taking place along the east and west sides of the perimeter.

Tonight, crews will remain active in the Garcia Wilderness, holding the fire within established lines and watching closely for areas of concern.

August 12, 2025 at 12:46 PM

Last night, the Gifford Fire advanced to the west, driven by northeasterly winds after sunset. It continues to spread along Garcia Ridge, close to established containment lines along Hi Mountain Road, which runs between the Garcia and Santa Lucia Wilderness areas.

Overnight crews worked diligently to prepare for a multi-day strategic firing operation aimed at removing vegetation in advance of the main fire. This operation is tentatively scheduled for this afternoon, contingent upon favorable weather conditions, manageable fire behavior, and complete readiness of resources.

On the northeast side, firefighters established containment lines near Los Pelados and Midway Roads. Crews have laid hoses in the area and will work to extinguish any remaining hot spots today. Meanwhile, other parts of the perimeter are currently in mop-up and patrol status.

Weather: Hot and dry conditions are expected to persist today. Tonight, higher elevations will experience poor humidity recovery. Winds on the ridges will shift from a northeasterly direction at night to a northwesterly direction during the day, with gusts reaching up to 20 MPH possible in the afternoon and evening. 

August 10, 2025 at 8:36 AM

Gifford Fire officials will host a community meeting in Santa Margarita today, Sunday, Aug. 10 at 2 p.m. Fire officials will provide an update on the current situation and address questions. The meeting will be held at Santa Margarita Elementary School (22070 H St., Santa Margarita, CA 93453).

It will also be broadcast virtually on the Los Padres National Forest Facebook page and YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@.LosPadresNF-Incidents.

Overnight, low temperatures bottomed out in the mid 50s to mid 60s at lower elevations and in the mid 60s to mid 70s at higher elevations. Humidity recovery was moderate at low elevations and poor at high elevations. Northeasterly winds gusting around 10-15 MPH were observed at the ridgetops, with weaker downcanyon winds at lower elevations.

Fire activity is present in Grass Oak Woodland and California Chaparral. Grass fuels (GR4) are plentiful and highly susceptible to spotting. Brush is represented as a high-volume, dry-climate shrub. Timber fuels are present in small pockets along ridges at the higher elevations and represented as fuel model TU5. Fuel moistures are low, with the energy release component (ERC) at the 90th percentile and increasing. The 1000-hour fuel moisture is at 9% and trending downward, while the 100 hour fuel moistures are at 8%. Live woody fuel moisture is critical at 55%.

August 9, 2025 at 4:24 PM

The Gifford Fire advanced into the rugged Garcia Wilderness and is now threatening the Machesna Mountain Wilderness, fueled by two large fire columns observed yesterday afternoon. Overnight, crews worked to reinforce control lines stretching from Avenales Ranch Road and the Salinas River to Hi Mountain Road and the Huasna River, with the goal of preventing the fire from spreading beyond the Garcia Wilderness.

On the northeast corner between Pelados Road and Pilitas Mountain, crews successfully contained the fire growth from yesterday, located south of the major power transmission line. However, a new slopover north of the line has become a top priority today to prevent the fire from spreading into the Machesna Wilderness. Dozer and hand crews will be connecting new control lines from the Madre Fire burn scar to the Los Machos Hills while assessing any threats to key facilities.

In the San Rafael Wilderness to the south, crews continue to advance handline construction, tying into existing control lines and are supported by aircraft with water drops. On the southeast side, crews are constructing both direct and contingency fire lines while improving Sierra Madre Road. On the southwest side, firefighters are developing a contingency plan from Buckhorn Ridge to Sisquoc and reinforcing existing lines, while also mopping up interior hot spots.

Overall, firefighters are focused on maintaining and enhancing containment lines, using aircraft to cool hot spots in steep terrain, and protecting communities, infrastructure, and critical values at risk.

August 8, 2025 at 10:15 AM

Special Announcement: Gifford Fire Officials will host a community meeting in Arroyo Grande tonight from 7 to 8 PM to provide an update on the current situation and address questions. The meeting will be held at the Branch Elementary School (970 School Rd., Arroyo Grande, CA. 93420). It will also be broadcast virtually on Los Padres National Forest YouTube and the Facebook. Questions can be submitted in advance to 2025.gifford@firenet.gov. 

Overnight, the fire showed minimal growth following yesterday’s rapid expansion on the northwest corner, where it had pushed toward the Garcia Wilderness. A temperature inversion settled in, helping to suppress fire activity across much of the incident. This inversion acted like a lid, trapping smoke and cooler air near the ground. By holding in moisture and reducing wind, it created more favorable conditions for suppression efforts. However, in the upper elevations along Pine Ridge, above the inversion layer, where conditions remained warmer and drier, the fire was active.

Today, crews will continue building primary and secondary control lines between the power line corridor and Pine Ridge to contain the new growth that occurred on the northwest corner of the fire. Elsewhere, on the east and west sides of the fire, crews will continue mop-up and patrol operations, with most of the line now holding from the Madre burn scar on the west side and the containment lines on the east. In the south, in the San Rafael Wilderness, crews are working to secure the fire’s edge by constructing handline to connect with existing control lines.

Los Padres National Forest Closure: The Los Padres National Forest is temporarily closed for public safety and the protection of natural resources from August 8, 2025 – Feb 8, 2026. The closure will include the entire Santa Lucia Ranger District and a portion of the Mount Pinos Ranger District. https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/lospadres/alerts/gifford-fire-area-closure-05-07-53-25-13

Weather: Hot and dry conditions will persist across the incident today. Afternoon temperatures will climb into the 90s to around 100, while humidity drops into the teens. Southwesterly, upcanyon winds can be expected this afternoon with gusts around 20 MPH. Very warm, and dry conditions will continue into the first half of next week.

Evacuations: Due to erratic fire behavior, residents should watch for changing conditions in their area.

• Santa Barbara County, visit ReadySBC.org and see the Gifford Fire Evacuation Map.
• San Luis Obispo County, visit ReadySlo.org/zones or ReadySlo.org/wea or call 805-543-2444.
  • New Orders and Warnings past 24-hours include:
• Evacuation Order – Please leave the area immediately:
  • SLC-222, SLC-223, SLC-259, SLC-260, SLC-296, LPF-009, LPF-010 LPF-012 are ordered to evacuate now. These zones include South of Pozo Rd, North of Huasna Rd, East of Lopez Cyn/Tar Spring Ridge and Lopez Lake.
  • SLC-261, SLC-262, SLC-311, SLC-334. These zones include Huasna Valley and east of Lopez Lake.
  • SLC-225, SLC-239, SLC-240, SLC-264, and SLC-298. Area includes North of Chimineas Ranch Rd, South of Hubbard Hill, West of Sprague Hill.
  • LPF-011, LPF-013, and SLC-297 in SLO County. This includes South of Pine Mountain Rd and Garcia Ridge, North of Haystack Canyon, East of Pine Creek.
• Evacuation Warning – Be prepared to leave if ordered:
  • SLC-193, SLC-194, SLC-221, SLC-238, SLC-258, SLC-293, SLC-294, SLC-295, LPF-007, LPF-008 should be prepared to leave if ordered. These zones include South and East of Santa Margarita Rsvr; North, South, and West of Lopez Lake; East of Orcutt.

Evacuation Point(s):

• Arroyo Grande High School is now open as an evacuation shelter for those affected by the Gifford Fire. Pets are welcome. Call (805) 543-2444 with questions.
• Benjamin Foxen Elementary School, 4949 Foxen Canyon Rd, Santa Maria is now closed.
• Cuyama Valley Family Resource Center, 4689 Highway 166, New Cuyama.
  • Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday (8am – 4pm); weekend hours may vary.
  • Residents can access this location for relief from the heat and smoke.
  • N95 masks, water bottles, and incident information are available onsite.
• The American Red Cross can also be contacted for assistance at 805-678-3073.

Animal Care: 

• Large Animals, please call the County Animal Services Disaster Hotline at 805-681-4332.
  • The Elks Rodeo Grounds is open for large animal evacuation at 4040 Highway 101, Santa Maria.  Enter the Morningside Drive Gate 2.
• Small/domestic animals, the following locations are available:
  • San Luis Obispo County:
    • SLO County Animal Services – 875 Oklahoma Ave, San Luis Obispo; Please call (805) 781- 4800 for assistance and in advance of arrival so staff can prepare.
  • Santa Barbara County:
    • 548 W Foster Rd, Santa Maria (open until 6pm)
    • 1501 W Central Ave, Lompoc (open until 6pm)
    • 5473 Overpass Rd, Goleta (open until 6pm)
    • 111 Commerce Dr, Buellton (open to 5pm)

Road Closure Notices: 

• Huasna Townsite South at Huasna and Huasna East (same intersection)
• Hi Mountain Road at Lopez Drive
• Huasna Road has been restricted to residents only
• State Route 166 remains closed between US 101 in Santa Maria and Perkins Road in New Cuyama. Non-emergency traffic will not be allowed east of Tepusquet Road or west of Perkins Road. There are exceptions. Please see the Gifford Fire Road Closure Update announcement on InciWeb.

August 7, 2025 at 10:38 AM

Gifford Fire officials will host a community meeting in Santa Maria Thursday night, August 7th, at 7 PM, to provide an update on the current situation and address questions. The meeting will be held at the Santa Barbara County Fire Station 23, 5003 Depot St., Santa Maria, CA 93454. It will also be broadcast virtually on YouTube and Facebook.

San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office will also host a public meeting Thursday night at the Loomis Family Barn, 8451 Huasna Road, Arroyo Grande, CA, 93420 at 7 PM. Gifford Fire officials will be in attendance to provide an overview of the current situation and planned activities.

Active fire persisted today on the north side of the fire prompting new evacuation orders and warnings in San Luis Obispo County (see Evacuations details below). Fire spreading northwest of the La Panza Range towards the Machesna Wilderness was the most active. Crews looked for opportunities to go direct along the Avenales Ranch Road, while contingency lines further north were also being scouted. Crews worked to deepen control lines on the western edge of the fire where they saw minimal fire activity. On the south end of the fire, crews were working to build handlines in the rugged and steep terrain of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Crews working the east side of the fire perimeter near Cuyama Valley continued to monitor control lines and saw little fire activity. Overnight, crews will continue to deepen and monitor control lines.

August 5, 2025 at 11:20 PM

Today, significant progress was made on the eastern flank of the fire, where fire growth was minimal. Firefighters successfully slowed the fire’s southward movement and made progress in constructing fire lines to the west. In the Pine Canyon and Buckhorn Ridge areas, the fire encountered less dense vegetation, which significantly slowed its spread. To the west of the main fire in Huasna Valley, firefighters assessed nearly 100 homes for structure defense.

The northwest flank of the fire remains a significant concern as it crossed the power transmission corridor and is continuing to spread towards the north and west. Considerable effort has been made to scout and identify suitable locations for constructing indirect fire lines. 

Tomorrow, there will be a concerted effort on the northwest flank with dozers, engines, water tenders, and hand crews to construct indirect containment lines. These efforts will provide firefighters a strategic foothold aimed at limiting or stopping the growth at the head of the fire. 

Weather: Today, temperatures reached the upper 80s to high 90s. Relative humidity dipped into the mid-teens. The winds were gusting at speeds of 15 to 20 mph. Thursday could see temperatures into the triple digits, with an increase in fire behavior. The warming and drying trend is expected to continue through the weekend. 

August 5, 2025 at 11:24 AM

Last night, firefighters held containment lines along SR166 on the west side, but where the line continued north, the fire crossed Alamo Creek.  Dozers previously constructed lines north of SR166 and encountered rocky areas. However, Night Operations redirected them into Alamo Creek and then north along a new route to intersect the transmission line road. Contingency lines have been constructed north of the transmission line, and those efforts are ongoing. The eastern flank of the fire has mostly stabilized, largely into the recent Madre Fire. However, there was a small slopover, which night crews successfully contained by establishing a line around it.

Today, the focus will be on Alamo Creek on the west side and along the transmission line to the north. The objectives for the southwest flank of the fire are to keep it east of Pine Canyon and away from structures. Firefighters will continue to construct contingency lines on the north and south flanks. Structure protection efforts continue in areas of concern. A base camp is being established in Santa Margarita and should be operational by Wednesday, which will put firefighters closer to the fire and reduce travel times. 

Weather: Today, temperatures will reach highs from the mid-80s to mid-90s.  Relative humidity is expected to dip into the mid-teens.  Winds may gust up to 15 to 20 mph today and will test lines already constructed. The warming and drying trend is expected to continue from Wednesday through the weekend. Thursday and Friday will see 90 to 100 degrees, with increasing fire behavior.

August 4, 2025 at 11:04 AM

Current Situation: The fire remained active well into the night. Firefighters made significant progress to the north, constructing dozer lines that connected with the Madre Fire. In Cuyama Valley, dozers worked to build containment lines to keep the fire on Sierra Madre Ridge. On the west flank, dozers worked to create containment lines down to the Iron Ox Ranch and then east toward Aliso Creek.

Today is expected to be another active day, particularly as the fire aligns with topographical features along grass and brush-covered hillsides. The main priorities for today include improving containment lines on the northern flank to prevent the fire from progressing toward the Manchaca Wilderness, continuing efforts in Cuyama Valley to keep the fire on Sierra Madre Ridge as well as providing structure protection in Schoolhouse and Cottonwood Canyons, and enhancing containment lines on the western flank from Iron Ox Ranch to the east.

Weather: For today, mostly sunny and smoky conditions are expected. Afternoon temperatures are predicted to reach the mid-80s to lower 90s, with relative humidity dropping to between 15% and 25%. Diurnal winds are anticipated, which may increase fire activity this afternoon. A warming and drying trend is expected to continue from Wednesday through next weekend.

Evacuations: Due to erratic fire behavior, residents should watch for changing conditions in their area. For information on evacuations in Santa Barbara County, please visit the following websites ReadySBC.org and see the Gifford Fire Evacuation Map.  For information on evacuations in San Luis Obispo County which has multiple alert and notification systems for emergency information, please visit PrepareSLO.org and ReadySlo.org/wea.

Evacuation Point(s):   

A Temporary Evacuation Point is now open at Benjamin Foxen Elementary School, located at 4949 Foxen Canyon Rd, Santa Maria. For assistance, you can also contact the American Red Cross at 805-678-3073.

Animal Care: 

Large Animals, please call the County Animal Services Disaster Hotline at 805-681-4332.

Small/domestic animals, the following locations are available:

• 548 W Foster Rd, Santa Maria (open until 6pm)
  • 1501 W Central Ave, Lompoc (open until 6pm)
  • 5473 Overpass Rd, Goleta (open until 6pm)
  • 111 Commerce Dr, Buellton (open to 5pm)

Road Closure Notice: State Route 166 remains closed between US 101 and Perkins Road in the unincorporated city of New Cuyama. Non-emergency traffic will not be allowed east of Tempusquet Road or west of Perkins Road. There are Exceptions. Please see the Gifford Fire Road Closure Update announcement on Inciweb.

August 3, 2025 at 8:39 AM

The fire remained moderately active overnight. The terrain and abundance of fuels have made suppression efforts challenging, but firefighters remain focused on a full-suppression strategy.

EVACUATIONS: This is a dynamic situation. Residents should maintain awareness and monitor for potential changing conditions.

 ReadySBC.org |  Sign up for Ready SBC Alerts  | Gifford Fire Evacuation Map

Evacuation Orders (Residents should leave now)

• Upper Tepusquet Canyon south of Highway 166
• Area south of Highway 166, east of Willow Springs trailhead, and west of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. 

Evacuation Warnings (Residents who need more time to evacuate should leave now.)

• Lower Tepusquet Canyon north of Sisquoc River
• South of Highway 166, east of Cottonwood Canyon Road, west of School House Road

All other residents should be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.

EVACUATION SHELTERS: For sheltering assistance, please call the American Red Cross at 805-678-3073.

•  Benjamin Foxen Elementary School, 4949 Foxen Canyon Rd, Santa Maria. (Temporary)

ANIMAL EVACUATION ASSISTANCE: 

• Large Animals – please call the County Animal Services Disaster Hotline at 805-681-4332.
• Small/domestic animal, the following locations are available:
  • 548 W Foster Rd, Santa Maria (open until 6pm)
  • 1501 W Central Ave, Lompoc (open until 6pm)
  • 5473 Overpass Rd, Goleta (open until 6pm)
  • 111 Commerce Dr, Buellton (open to 5pm)

ROAD CLOSURES: Highway 166 between Highway 101 and to the southern junction of Highway 33. For updates, please visit  Caltrans

Avoid traveling in this area, unless you are evacuating the area.             

August 3, 2025 at 12:16 AM

Los Padres National Forest is currently in unified command with Santa Barbara County Fire Department. California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 has been ordered and in-briefed with transfer of command occurring at 6:00 A.M. on Sunday, August 3, 2025.

The fire continues to show extreme behavior with running, and long-range spotting, and backing. The terrain and abundance of fuels continue to make suppression efforts challenging, but firefighters remain focused on a full-suppression strategy.

Extreme fire behavior with running, long range spotting and backing. Evacuations orders and warnings in place. Threat to structures and powerlines. Threat to cultural, wildlife livestock and watersheds. Road, area and trail closures in effect. Terrain and fuels making suppression efforts difficult. Difficult access due to terrain.

August 2, 2025 at 8:23 AM

Los Padres National Forest firefighters responded to reports of multiple wildfires along Highway 166, west of Cuyama, in the afternoon of Friday, August 1st, 2025. Evacuations are in progress and road closures are now in effect. Los Padres National Forest is currently in unified command with Santa Barbara County Fire. A complex Incident Management Team has been ordered and will in-brief on the evening of Saturday, August 2nd, 2025.

The fire remained moderately active overnight. The terrain and abundance of fuels have made suppression efforts challenging, but firefighters remain focused on a full-suppression strategy.