The Gifford fire in Los Padres National Forest has rapidly expanded to over 30,000 acres within two days, with only 5% contained as of Saturday evening. Firefighters continue to face extreme conditions, including high temperatures and dry vegetation. Evacuation orders have been put in place for lands near Garey. Cal Fire is providing additional support despite the fire occurring on federally managed land. Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the federal government's previous budget cuts to forest management, linking it to the fire's intensity.
The Gifford fire has scorched more than 30,000 acres in less than two days in Los Padres National Forest as firefighters struggle to quell the blaze in the Sierra Madre mountains. Wildland firefighters were continuing to battle the blaze Saturday along Highway 166 in rural Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, about 20 miles east of Santa Maria, according to the U.S. Forest Service and Cal Fire.
As of Saturday evening, the fire was 5% contained and continuing to chew through the tall, dry grass and chaparral that covers the steep hills and mountains. Evacuation orders and warnings were issued for agricultural lands near the unincorporated community of Garey.
Although the fire is on federally managed land, Cal Fire crews joined the response to assist with more ground personnel and firefighting aircraft. Criticized on the social media platform X for the fire's explosive growth, Gov. Gavin Newsom's press office reiterated that the fire was not on state land.
Newsom has criticized President Trump for cutting funding for forest management, including activities such as prescribed burning, a process that reduces the risk of explosive fires by proactively burning.
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