Santa Maria – A huge natural fire on Monday threatened hundreds of houses in Central California after the injury of at least three people while it tore through Los Padres National Forest.
Related: Map: Gifford Fire closes first of the Wildfire Season
The Gifford fire burned more than 100 square miles (260 square km) on the coast of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, and still burned out of hand, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire.
A motorist was admitted to the hospital with burns after he had come out of his vehicle and was overwhelmed by flames, said Flemming Bertelson, a spokesperson for the American Forest Service. Two contract workers who helped firefighters were also injured when their entire site was destroyed.
The fire threatened around 450 structures and forced the closure of the highway in both directions to the east of Santa Maria, a city of around 110,000 people in Santa Barbara County. About 65 miles (105 kilometers) northwest of Santa Barbara and 150 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles, the hilly agricultural region is littered by vast California Live Oaks and Sycamore trees and is known for its wine industry.
The fire grew from at least four smaller fires that burst on Friday along State Route 166 between Santa Maria and Bakersfield.
“That gave us several fronts, and the flames started to blow in many directions,” said Bertelson. “The fire is chewy and brushland swallowing up and gets very steep slopes.”
Ranchers evacuated cattle while aircraft dripped water on the penetrating flames.
More than 1,000 firefighters fought against warm, dry weather and whimsical wind to make progress against the fire before the wind was expected to beat around the dusk.
The causes of the fires are being investigated.
Originally published:
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