Gifford Fire grows to over 65,000 acres on California’s Central Coast

The Gifford Fire continued to burn Monday in California’s Central Coast region, prompting expanded evacuation orders and road closures as the blaze grew to more than 65,000 acres.

The fire, which ignited Friday afternoon northeast of Santa Maria in the Los Padres National Forest, is only 3% contained. At least three people have also been injured. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Officials have issued evacuation orders for:

• South of Highway 166, east of School House Road, and west of Aliso Canyon Road
• South of Highway 166, east of Cottonwood Canyon Road, and west of School House Road
• Upper Tepusquet Canyon, south of Highway 166
• South of Highway 166, east of the Willow Springs trailhead, and west of Cottonwood Canyon Road

An evacuation map is available here.

Evacuation warnings have been issued for the following areas:

• South of Highway 166, east of Aliso Canyon Road, and west of Perkins Road
• Lower Tepusquet Canyon, north of the Sisquoc River

Authorities emphasized that residents requiring additional time to evacuate — including those with disabilities or those with animals — should leave immediately.

Highway 166 remains closed between Highway 101 and the southern junction of Highway 33. Travel in the area is restricted to evacuation purposes only.

Temporary Evacuation Points and Community Resource Centers

Two temporary evacuation points and community information centers have been established for residents affected by the Gifford Fire:

• Benjamin Foxen Elementary School, 4949 Foxen Canyon Road, Santa Maria
  Open Monday, Aug. 3, and Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  Offers relief from heat and smoke. N95 masks, bottled water and fire updates are available onsite.
• Cuyama Valley Family Resource Center, 4689 Highway 166, New Cuyama
  Open Monday, Aug. 3, and Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  Provides the same services as above.

Additional Resources

• For shelter assistance, call the American Red Cross at 805-678-3073.
• For large animal evacuation support, call the County Animal Services Disaster Hotline at 805-681-4332.
  • Large animals can be taken to the Elks Rodeo Grounds, 4040 Highway 101, Santa Maria (enter through Morningside Drive Gate 2).

Small/domestic animal evacuation locations

• 548 W. Foster Road, Santa Maria – until 6 p.m.
• 1501 W. Central Ave., Lompoc – until 6 p.m.
• 5473 Overpass Road, Goleta – until 6 p.m.
• 111 Commerce Drive, Buellton – until 5 p.m.