A massive inferno in Southern California has been branded a ‘megafire’ after becoming the state’s biggest wildfire of the year.
The Golden State has had a scorching 2025, beginning with the iconic Los Angeles flames that ravaged entire communities, killing 30 people and displacing others.
Just last month, the Madre Fire destroyed approximately 81,000 acres of property in San Luis Obispo County, and now the same neighbors are terrified of her beastly sister, the Gifford Fire, which has torn through 104,402 acres.
The state of California has dispatched 3,685 firemen to assist in putting out the fire, including 21 helicopters, 267 fire engines, 142 bulldozers, 98 water tenders, and 86 different teams, yet it is still only 21% controlled.
So far, three citizens and five firemen have been reported hurt, with just two homes destroyed.
Los Padres National Forest has issued the following statement on the present state of the fire: “The Gifford Fire has spread into the rocky Garcia Wilderness and is now threatening the Machesna Mountain Wilderness, fueled by two major fire columns seen yesterday afternoon.
“Overnight, personnel worked to fortify containment lines that ran from Avenales Ranch Road and the Salinas River to Hi Mountain Road and the Huasna River, intending to keep the fire from spreading beyond the Garcia Wilderness.
“On the northeast corner between Pelados Road and Pilitas Mountain, crews successfully contained the fire growth from yesterday, located south of the major power transmission line.”
It went on: “However, a fresh slope north of the line has become a primary priority today to keep the fire from spreading into the Machesna Wilderness. Dozer and hand teams will link new control lines from the Madre Fire burn scar to the Los Machos Hills while analyzing potential dangers to vital facilities.
“In the San Rafael Wilderness to the south, personnel are advancing handline construction by hooking into existing control lines and receiving water drops from planes. On the southeast side, firefighters are building direct and contingency fire lines as well as upgrading Sierra Madre Road. On the southwest side, firefighters are creating a contingency plan from Buckhorn Ridge to Sisquoc, strengthening existing lines, and mopping out interior hot areas.
“Overall, firefighters are focused on maintaining and enhancing containment lines, using aircraft to cool hot spots in steep terrain, and protecting communities, infrastructure, and critical values at risk.”
The weather is likely to remain favorable to the fire, with hot and dry conditions projected, while afternoon temperatures in San Luis Obispo County are expected to reach the 90s as humidity lowers.
In addition, gusts of up to 20 mph are forecast this afternoon in the canyons.
“We have hot weather, and we have low relative humidity,” Santa Barbara County Fire Department Capt. Scott Safechuck told AP. “So we expect extreme fire behavior.”