What is the name and location of the wildfire?
As of August 11, 2025, the Gifford Fire is burning in Santa Barbara County, California. It is located along Highway 166, approximately 30 to 36 miles east of Santa Maria in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, California.
The fire is burning within the Los Padres National Forest and is situated just west of the area affected by the previous Madre Fire, which burned over 80,000 acres earlier this summer (1). The fire has overtaken the Madre Fire's status as the largest wildfire in California for 2025 (2).
The fire spans both sides of Highway 166 and is impacting a largely rural area surrounded by dry, forested terrain (3).
For a more detailed look, see Santa Barbara’s air quality map.
Which cities or areas are affected by the Gifford Fire?
What is the current containment status of the Gifford Fire?
As of August 11, 2025, the Gifford Fire has burned approximately 119,070 acres and is 33% contained (4).
The fire began as multiple small spot fires that quickly merged and expanded, driven by dry fuels, low humidity, and sunlight. It continues to burn actively on both sides of Highway 166.
Firefighters are utilizing both ground crews and aerial resources, including helicopters and Very Large Air Tankers (VLATs), to suppress the flames and protect surrounding communities (5).
Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?
Multiple evacuation orders are currently in effect in both San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.
In Santa Barbara County, evacuations have been ordered for:
- Areas south of Highway 166
- East of Willow Springs Trailhead
- West of Cottonwood Canyon Road
Additionally, an air quality alert has been issued for the Cuyama area, and an air quality watch remains in place for the rest of Santa Barbara County. Highway 166 is closed between Highway 101 and New Cuyama.
Residents are urged to monitor local emergency channels for updates and comply with all evacuation instructions (6).
How can I protect myself from wildfire smoke?
Always plan ahead to protect yourself from wildfire smoke.
- Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
- Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
- Run a high-performance air purifier to filter wildfire smoke.
- Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
- Stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
As of August 11, 2025, this fire is 33% contained.
