The Gifford fire, pushing primarily northwest in San Luis Obispo County, has charred 119,214 acres as of Monday morning, with containment progressing to 33% as firefighters battle flames in steep, rugged terrain and thick vegetation that hasn't burned for decades.

The blaze, burning in the Garcia Wilderness with movement toward the Huasna Valley and Pozo, cast a pall of smoke over southern San Luis Obispo and northern Santa Barbara counties.

Highway 166 remained closed Monday from Santa Maria east to Perkins Road in New Cuyama, according to Caltrans, with no estimated time for reopening.

The fire ignited Aug. 1 and has been burning a little more than a week, destroying two structures, with 2,922 threatened as of Monday. Seven firefighters and three civilians have been injured fightin

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