• Smoke from the Gifford Fire fills the sky as the sun sets over Los Padres National Forest, California, on Monday, August 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

A massive wildfire is sweeping through Los Padres National Forest in California, endangering hundreds of homes and buildings. Named the Gifford fire, the blaze has already burned more than 72,000 acres (29,000 hectares) as of Monday evening. The wildfire started Friday as multiple smaller fires along State Route 166 between Santa Maria and Bakersfield before merging into a major fire front.

At least three people have been reported injured. Over 450 structures are currently under threat as fire crews work to contain the expanding perimeter.

Current Snapshot of Significant #Wildfire 🔥 Activity in California via @CAL_FIRE:

🔗 https://t.co/spEQdIyfL3 pic.twitter.com/epKSHyO3fG

— #LAFD Talk 💬 (@LAFDtalk) August 4, 2025

The fire is primarily burning through the brush-covered hillsides along coastal Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, north of Los Angeles. By Monday night, officials said the fire was just 5% contained. Authorities warned that erratic fire behavior and changing conditions could cause the situation to worsen rapidly.

The National Weather Service forecasted gusty sundowner winds, expected to reach up to 25 mph (40 km/h), which could further spread the flames.

Injuries and evacuations reported

One motorist reportedly sustained serious burn injuries after exiting his vehicle and being overtaken by flames. He was hospitalized, according to US Forest Service spokesperson Flemming Bertelson. Two contract workers assisting with firefighting operations were also injured when their all-terrain vehicle overturned.

Additionally, ranchers have been forced to evacuate livestock as firefighting aircraft conduct water drops over rapidly advancing fire lines.

Don Fregulia, operations section chief for the California Interagency Incident Management Team, stated that firefighters are facing "extremely challenging and difficult terrain" in the San Rafael Wilderness area of Los Padres National Forest. Heavy smoke is limiting visibility, making aerial support difficult. However, crews have had some success in slowing the fire's spread in certain northern areas where the air is clearer.

🚨🇺🇸CALIFORNIA MEGA-FIRE RAGES: GIFFORD INFERNO SWELLS TO 50,000 ACRES

The Gifford Fire in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties has scorched 50,000 acres and is just 3% contained.

🔹Fierce heat, dry winds and rugged terrain fuel rapid spread, forcing evacuations and… pic.twitter.com/M100UxtnQe

— Info Room (@InfoR00M) August 4, 2025

Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate further, with a heatwave forecast to push temperatures above 100°F (38°C) across inland areas of southern California from Wednesday through Saturday. These high temperatures, combined with gusty winds and dry terrain, are expected to increase fire activity.

California remains highly vulnerable to wildfires this season following a dry and warm spring. Although wildfires typically intensify toward late summer and autumn, current activity is already trending above seasonal norms, according to CalFire.

Nonetheless, the cause of the Gifford fire remains under investigation.

Rising wildfire intensity and frequency

While the number of wildfires in California has declined over the past two decades, from an annual average of 10,205 fires (1987–2000) to 8,217 (2010–2023), the area affected has increased dramatically. The average acreage burned annually has surged by 163%, rising from 417,779 to over 1,098,229 acres. This shift reflects the growing intensity and destructiveness of recent fires.

In addition, the traditional fire season, previously confined to May through October, has now expanded to a year-round threat. Winter wildfires, such as those in January 2025 in Los Angeles, are increasingly common, signaling a significant change in California’s fire patterns.

The January 2025 Los Angeles fires alone are estimated to have caused between $250–275 billion in total damage and economic loss. Insurance claims from those fires range from $35–75 billion, while property losses have been estimated between $76–131 billion. The broader economic impacts include a 0.48% reduction in LA County's GDP, amounting to approximately $4.6 billion, and wage losses of nearly $300 million. Furthermore, over 16,000 structures were destroyed in those fires, and long-term recovery remains a significant challenge for affected communities across the state.