Firefighters from Los Padres National Forest are battling a significant vegetation fire that has spread across 5,000 acres near the Gifford Trailhead along Highway 166, close to the San Luis Obispo County border. This fire, which ignited before 2:00 p.m. on Friday, appears to be the result of a series of previously extinguished spot fires in the vicinity, according to officials.
As of 5:20 p.m. Friday, evacuation orders are in effect for areas south of Highway 166, east of the Willow Springs trailhead, and west of Cottonwood Canyon Road, as communicated by the Santa Barbara County authorities. In addition, four zones in San Luis Obispo County—LPF-016, LPF-017, LPF-019, and SLC-337—have also been placed under evacuation orders.
To ensure public safety, the California Highway Patrol has closed Highway 166 between Santa Maria and New Cuyama due to the fire’s impact. There are multiple unrelated fires reported on the north side of the highway, all contributing to the complexity of the situation, according to Los Padres National Forest officials.
Authorities are actively monitoring the situation and will continue to provide updates regarding emergency responses as more information becomes available. This incident underscores the ongoing challenges of wildfire management and the importance of readiness in fire-prone areas.