Incident Update Gifford Fire

Date:
08/09/2025
Time:
8:37 AM

Fire Information: Phone: (805) 308-5533 2025 Email: gifford@firenet.gov

Media Line: (805) 308-5539

Incident Facts

Name
Gifford Fire
Start Date/Time
2025-08-01
Incident Status
Active
Location
Highway 166, Northeast of Santa Maria
Type
Wildfire
Cause
Under Investigation
Counties
San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara
Administration Unit
Unified Command: Los Padres National Forest, Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office, CAL FIRE
Unified Command Agency(s)
Size
104,402
Containment
21%
Structures Threatened
2,912
Structures Destroyed
2
Structures Damaged
Civilian Injuries
3
Firefighter Injuries
5
Civilian Fatalities
Firefighter Fatalities

Current Situation

Situation Summary

California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 (CIIMT 5) has assumed command as of 8/03/25. Fire is burning actively on both sides of the highway with more active spread on the south side. For evacuation info visit ReadySBC.

For more information, please visit Gifford Fire InciWeb.

Evacuation Zones

Evacuation Information:

Evacuation Orders

Evacuation Orders issued for the following zones:

San Luis Obispo County

  • LPF-009
  • LPF-010
  • LPF-011
  • LPF-012
  • LPF-013
  • LPF-014
  • LPF-015
  • LPF-016
  • LPF-017
  • LPF-018
  • LPF-019
  • SLC-222
  • SLC-223
  • SLC-225
  • SLC-239
  • SLC-240
  • SLC-259
  • SLC-260
  • SLC-261
  • SLC-262
  • SLC-263
  • SLC-264
  • SLC-296
  • SLC-297
  • SLC-298
  • SLC-311
  • SLC-334
  • SLC-335
  • SLC-336
  • SLC-337

Santa Barbara County

  • LPF-165
  • SBC-159-A
  • SBC-161-A
  • SBC-163
  • SBC-167
  • SBC-169-A
  • SBC-169-B

Evacuation Warnings

Evacuation Warnings issued for the following zones:

San Luis Obispo County

  • LPF-002
  • LPF-003
  • LPF-007
  • LPF-008
  • SLC-193
  • SLC-194
  • SLC-195
  • SLC-196
  • SLC-197
  • SLC-221
  • SLC-224
  • SLC-226
  • SLC-238
  • SLC-258
  • SLC-293
  • SLC-294
  • SLC-295
  • SLC-310
  • SLC-312
  • SLC-333

Santa Barbara County

  • SBC-159-B
  • SBC-161-B
  • SBC-172
  • SBC-179
  • SBC-229-A

Road Closures

Please take caution when travelling or commuting. Visit EmergencySLO for current closures.

  • Highway 166 is closed from Hwy 101 to SR 33 
  • Huasna Townsite south at Huasna and Huasna East at the same intersection
  • Huasna Road has been restricted to residents and essential traffic only
  • Huasna Road East of School Road has been restricted to residents and essential traffic only
  • Lopez at Orcutt has been restricted to residents and essential traffic only
  • Lopez Drive at the dam
  • Pozo Road at Santa Margarita Lake has been restricted to residents and essential traffic only
  • Pozo Road at River Road has been restricted to residents and essential traffic only

Non-emergency traffic is prohibited east of Tempusquet Road and west of Perkins Road.

Evacuation Shelters

Evacuation Shelter

Arroyo Grande High School
495 Valley Rd., Arroyo Grande

For sheltering assistance, please call the American Red Cross at 805-678-3073

Animal Evacuation Shelters

For assistance evacuating large animals, in San Luis Obispo County please contact Horse Emergency Evacuation Team (HEET) at 805-466-7457.
For assistance evacuating large animals, in Santa Barbara County please contact the County Animal Services Disaster Hotline at 805-681-4332.

Large animal shelters have been established at:

  • The Elks Rodeo Grounds is open for large animal evacuation at 4040 Highway 101, Santa Maria.  Enter the Morningside Drive Gate 2.
  • Paso Robles Event Center Equestrian Center, 2198 Riverside Ave, Paso Robles. Enter at Rodeo Gate

For small/domestic animal evacuations, the following locations are available:

  • 548 W Foster Rd, Santa Maria (open until 6pm)
  • 1501 W Central Ave, Lompoc (open until 6pm)
  • 5473 Overpass Rd, Goleta (open until 6pm)
  • 111 Commerce Dr, Buellton (open to 5pm)

Temporary Evacuation Point

Temporary Evacuation Point and Community Information & Resource Center: 

Benjamin Foxen Elementary School
4949 Foxen Canyon Rd,
Santa Maria, CA 93454
Hours of Operation: Monday, August 3 and Tuesday, August 4 (8am - 7pm) 

Cuyama Valley Family Resource Center
4689 Highway 166,
New Cuyama, CA 93254
Hours of Operation: Monday, August 3 and Tuesday, August 4 (8am - 4pm)  

Assigned Resources

Numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout the State are flying fire suppression missions as conditions allow.

Engines
267
Water Tenders
98
Helicopters
21
Dozers
142
Hand Crews
86
Other
592
Total Personnel
3685