Gifford Fire Map Live: Real-Time Updates on Evacuation Zones, Smoke Plumes & Road Closures

Subheadings: Gifford Fire Map: Where the Blaze Is Burning Now Latest Acreage, Containment, and Growth Potential Real-Time Tools to Track Evacuation Zones Road Closures and Air-Quality Outlook How the Weather Could Shape the Next 48 Hours What to Do if You Live in a Warning Area Gifford Fire Map: Where the Blaze Is Burning Now The Gifford Fire continues to churn through chaparral and oak woodland on both sides of Highway 166, roughly 30 to 36 miles east of Santa Maria in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Early Friday, CAL FIRE updated the footprint to an estimated 99,232 acres with 15 percent containment. An interactive perimeter map—refreshed every 15 minutes—can be viewed on Watch Duty; it overlays active fire lines, infrared heat detections, and evacuation polygons in real time. Latest Acreage, Containment, and Growth Potential • Acres burned: 99,232 • Containment: 15 % • Structures threatened: 4,800 • Injuries: 3 firefighters (minor) Incident commanders report the most aggressive fire activity on the southeastern flank, where steep canyons and dry sundowner winds are funneling embers across established dozer lines. Crews are using tactical firing operations overnight to keep the main head of the fire north of Foxen Canyon Road. Real-Time Tools to Track Evacuation Zones Authorities in Santa Barbara County issued a Level 3 “Go Now” order for Tepusquet Canyon, Pine Canyon, and Twitchell Reservoir communities. Level 2 “Be Set” warnings extend westward to Sisquoc and Garey—areas marked in yellow on the Watch Duty and county GIS dashboards. Residents should bookmark: 1. Santa Barbara County ReadySBC.org wildfire map (evacuation status) 2. CAL FIRE Ready for Wildfire app (push alerts) 3. National Interagency Fire Center IRWIN feed (official perimeter shapefiles) Road Closures and Air-Quality Outlook Caltrans closed Highway 166 between Aliso Park Road and New Cuyama; detours add up to 90 minutes of travel time. The San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District issued an unhealthy-for-sensitive-groups advisory for Guadalupe, Nipomo, Arroyo Grande, and Oceano. AQI values may spike above 150 during afternoon downslope winds; consider N95 masks if you must be outdoors for more than an hour. How the Weather Could Shape the Next 48 Hours A dry Pacific trough sliding across Northern California will deepen the onshore gradient tonight, generating gusts to 25 mph after sunset and single-digit humidity by mid-day Saturday. While cooler coastal air may arrive Sunday, Incident Meteorologist Chris Denton warns that a temperature rebound to 98 °F and low humidity on Monday “could reignite dormant hot spots and test newly completed hand lines.” What to Do if You Live in a Warning Area • Pack a three-day kit: medications, chargers, pet food, paper copies of insurance. • Park your vehicle facing the exit lane with a half-tank of fuel. • Keep gutters and yards clear of dry leaves and pine needles. • Sign up for local emergency text alerts and follow @CALFIRE_SLO and @SBCFireInfo on social media. • If authorities issue a Level 3 order, leave immediately; do not wait for a second knock. Search interest in “Gifford Fire map” has surged because interactive tools help residents—and worried relatives—visualize exactly where the flames and evacuation perimeters are shifting hour by hour. Bookmark this article for continuing updates; we’ll refresh acreage, containment, and map links as new infrared flights and official briefings come in.