Live Updates: Santa Barbara Fire Erupts—Evacuations, Road Closures, and Air Quality Alerts

Firefighters across Santa Barbara and neighboring San Luis Obispo counties are racing to contain the fast-moving Gifford Fire, the region’s largest summer blaze so far. Sparked by four separate roadside ignitions that merged along Highway 166 on Friday afternoon, the wildfire has exploded to roughly 67,000 acres as of Tuesday morning and is just 3 percent contained. Evacuation orders now cover the Cuyama Valley corridor from New Cuyama west to the Santa Maria city limits, placing nearly 500 homes, ranches, and agricultural facilities at risk. At least three people have been injured, and officials say more than 460 structures remain under direct threat. The American Red Cross has opened shelters at Santa Maria High School and the Veterans Memorial Building in Nipomo to assist displaced residents. Highway 166—the primary east-west artery through northern Santa Barbara County—remains closed between U.S. 101 and New Cuyama, cutting off a critical trucking route and forcing commuters onto lengthy detours. Cal Fire officials warn drivers to avoid the area entirely as falling embers have already ignited spot fires outside established perimeters. More than 1,900 firefighters, 28 air tankers, and 14 helicopters are assigned to the incident, supported by bulldozers and hand crews carving containment lines across rugged chaparral slopes in Los Padres National Forest. Crews are concentrating on the blaze’s western flank near Iron Ox Ranch, where gusty afternoon sundowner winds have repeatedly pushed flames toward the Santa Maria River drainage. Overnight humidity recovery has been poor—hovering below 25 percent—allowing the fire to stay active well past midnight. Officials say the Gifford Fire is exhibiting “plume-dominated” behavior, generating its own weather and lofting embers more than a mile ahead of the head fire. A Red Flag Warning remains in effect through Wednesday evening, with temperatures forecast to reach the upper 90s and winds gusting to 30 mph. The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued an air-quality advisory for Goleta, Carpinteria, and downtown Santa Barbara, where particulate readings reached the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” category overnight. Investigators from Cal Fire’s law-enforcement branch are still determining the exact cause, but early reports indicate that sparks from a passing vehicle may have ignited dry roadside grasses along Highway 166—an increasingly common source of wildfires during California’s prolonged drought. Residents under evacuation orders are urged to leave immediately, keep roadways clear for emergency traffic, and register for Santa Barbara County’s ReadySBC alerts. Pet owners can take animals to the Santa Maria Fairpark, while large-animal sheltering is available at Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara. Fire managers say full containment could take several weeks, depending on weather and terrain. In the meantime, communities from Orcutt to Solvang should stay prepared for additional evacuation warnings as crews battle the Santa Barbara fire on multiple fronts.