A large wildfire is raging through the Los Padres National Forest in central California, posing a significant threat to hundreds of homes and causing injuries to at least three individuals, according to officials.
The Gifford Fire has engulfed over 100 square miles (259 square km) within Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties and is only 3% contained, as per the latest incident report.
The fire originated from at least four separate smaller fires that ignited on Friday along State Route 166, located between Santa Maria and Bakersfield, according to Flemming Bertelson, a spokesperson for the US Forest Service.
“This created multiple fire fronts, causing the flames to spread rapidly in various directions,” he stated on Monday. “The fire is consuming chaparral and brushland and rapidly ascending very steep slopes.”
The highway remains closed to traffic in both directions east of Santa Maria.
Over 450 structures are currently threatened by the blaze. Ranchers have been evacuating their cattle as aircraft are being utilized to drop water on the advancing flames.
Mr. Bertelson reported that a motorist was hospitalized with burns after exiting their vehicle and being caught in the fire.
In a separate incident, two contract employees assisting firefighters sustained injuries when their all-terrain vehicle overturned.
More than 1,000 firefighters are working under hot and dry conditions, racing to control the fire before the emergence of strong sundowner winds around dusk.
The National Weather Service forecasts that erratic afternoon gusts could reach speeds of up to 25mph (40kph) in the fire area.
The cause of the fires is currently under investigation.
