Home / Disasters and Accidents / Gifford Fire Becomes Largest Wildfire in California This Year, Threatens Hundreds of Homes
Gifford Fire Becomes Largest Wildfire in California This Year, Threatens Hundreds of Homes
6 Aug
Summary
- Gifford Fire scorches over 131 square miles, surpassing 2025's largest blaze
- Crews battle extreme fire behavior due to high temperatures and low humidity
- Four people injured, including a firefighter, as wildfires rage across California
As of August 7th, 2025, a massive wildfire in central California, known as the Gifford Fire, has become the largest blaze in the state so far this year. The fire has scorched at least 131 square miles of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, surpassing the previous record set by the 126-square-mile Madre Fire last month.
Firefighters are facing significant challenges in their efforts to contain the Gifford Fire, as rising temperatures on Wednesday have posed new obstacles. Crews working in steep, inaccessible terrain are dealing with temperatures in the mid-90s Celsius, and the mercury is expected to climb above 38 Celsius on Thursday. The National Weather Service has warned of elevated wildfire risk across much of inland California due to the ongoing heat wave and persistent drought conditions.
Despite the challenging circumstances, firefighters have made incremental progress against the blaze, which has threatened more than 870 remote homes and other structures at the northern edge of the Los Padres National Forest. Four people, including a firefighter, have been injured as a result of the fire, with a motorist hospitalized with burn injuries after being overrun by flames.
Across the state, a dozen major blazes are currently burning, and officials warn that the threat will only grow in the coming months, as August and September are typically the most dangerous periods for wildfires in California.
