Catastrophic inferno in Los Padres National Forest scorches over 30,000 acres, dubbed as Gifford fire.
Gifford Fire Rages Through California's Sierra Madre Mountains
A wildfire, known as the Gifford Fire, has been burning through the tall, dry grass and chaparral of the Sierra Madre mountains since Friday afternoon. The blaze was first reported near Los Padres National Forest's Gifford trailhead.
The California Interagency Incident Management Team (CIIMT) has taken command of the incident, with federal, state, and county firefighters working together to contain the fire. As of August 5, 2025, the fire has burned approximately 82,567 acres, with only 7% containment.
The fire is actively burning on both sides of Highway 166, with more active spread observed on the south side. Cal Fire and federal firefighters are coordinating efforts, focusing on strategies to slow fire spread and protect communities in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.
Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place, with community meetings planned to keep residents informed of conditions. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and no reported civilian or firefighter injuries or fatalities have been indicated so far.
The fire is on federally managed land within Los Padres National Forest. Governor Gavin Newsom's press office has reiterated that the fire was not on state land. The #GiffordFire started on Trump's federally managed land.
The Gifford fire has scorched over 30,000 acres in Los Padres National Forest. The blaze had multiple start points along Highway 166. As of Saturday evening, the Gifford fire was only 5% contained.
Governor Newsom has criticized President Trump for cutting funding for forest management, including prescribed burning. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The CIIMT includes the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Park Service, Cal Fire, the state's Office of Emergency Services, and county-level fire departments. For continuous updates, official sources like Cal Fire's incident page and Gifford Fire InciWeb are recommended.
The fire is not far from the perimeter of the recently extinguished Madre fire. Wildland firefighters are battling the blaze along Highway 166 in rural Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Cal Fire crews joined the response to assist with more ground personnel and firefighting aircraft.
Stay tuned for further updates on the Gifford Fire.
- The environmental science community is monitoring the impact of the Gifford Fire on the ecosystem of California's Sierra Madre Mountains, especially the threatened species residing in Los Padres National Forest.
- While evacuation orders and meetings help keep residents informed and safe during the Gifford Fire, concerned citizens may also be interested in the ongoing weather patterns to anticipate potential changes in the fire behavior.
- Given the ongoing controversy over forest management funding, many environmentalists argue that investment in environmental-science programs and practices could have prevented such catastrophes in sports events like mountain biking or hiking, which are popular pastimes in the affected regions.
