The Gifford fire had burned 65,000 acres by early Monday, scorching through part of Los Padres National Forest in south-central California and putting hundreds of people under evacuation orders.

The wildfire was 3% contained as of early Monday, officials said. Three people had been injured by the blaze, and 460 structures were threatened.

The Gifford fire grew out of multiple smaller blazes along a stretch of Highway 166, a road that cuts across the forest and is known for fires caused by passing cars. Firefighters have been battling the blazes in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties since Friday, fire officials said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Hot and dry conditions and winds helped fuel the fire’s growth Monday. The National Weather Service warned of winds wi

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