Hundreds of firefighters are trying to contain a fast-moving wildfire that erupted near California’s central coast on Wednesday, forcing evacuations in two counties.
The Madre Fire broke out just after 1pm along Highway 166 in the new Kuyama area, according to the incident commander. The cause is under investigation.
As of Thursday morning, the fire had burnt 35,500 acres of predominantly dry brushes, making it the biggest wildfire in California this year.
The evacuation orders and warnings included areas in both San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. A temporary shelter has been set up at the California Valley Community Services District facility at 13080 Soda Lake Road in Santa Margarita.
The Madre Fire will be seen on July 2, 2025 by Alert California Camera. (Alert California | UC San Diego) The Madre Fire will be seen on July 2, 2025 from Alert California Camera. Diego) Madre Fire Evacuation and Warning as of July 3, 2025 (San Luis Obispo County Emergency Services)
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, 50 structures were threatened, with containment listed at just 5%.
A video shared by UC San Diego’s Alert California Camera Network shows the rapid spread of fires into what is known as the Carrizo Plain.
As of Thursday, more than 300 firefighters had been assigned to the flames, including seven air tankers and two helicopters.
The new Cuyama is located about 60 miles west of Bakersfield and 50 miles east of Santa Maria.
Evacuation order:
LPF-017, SLC-226, SLC-264, SLC-265, SLC-299, SLC-312, SLC-337, SLC-338
Evacuation warning:
SLC-263, SLC-298, SLC-300, SLC-313, SLC-339, SLC-358
Santa Barbara County – East of the Rock Front Area, west of Cottonwood Canyon Road and south of Highway 166.
Update: https://www.facebook.com/calfireslu
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