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 h