SIT REP 5 | AUGUST 16, 2025 | 1715 PT

INCIDENT SUMMARY

Photo Credit: ALERT California / PG&E

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY — The GIFFORD FIRE continues to rage, well beyond its start date on August 1, 2025, from an unknown cause that has yet to be ruled as undetermined. Fire Officials continue to investigate the cause.

Please mark this on your calendar as a Fire Community Meeting will be held on Sunday to help the community understand what is happening, what fire resources are doing and where, as well as address concerns and answer questions.

SIZE UP

  • 132,605 acres
  • 73% containment status
  • CIMT (CA Team 8) is mobilizing
  • Minimal fire behavior with backing, smoldering, and creeping

LOCATION

The fire is burning on Hwy 166, northeast of Santa Maria in two California counties in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, where multiple resources are working together to manage, suppress, and contain this firestorm.

INCIDENT COOPERATORS

The following listed below are in Unified Command:

  • CIIMT Team 5
  • Los Padres National Forest – U.S.F.S.
  • Santa Barbara County FD
  • CAL FIRE
  • Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office

Incident Cooperators:

  • American Red Cross Central California Region
  • AeroVision Global
  • ALERT California
  • Direct Relief
  • South Coast Air Quality Management District
  • Santa Barbara County EMA
  • Channel Islands YMCA
  • Liberty Insurance

The number of resources, personnel, and equipment is listed below:

  • 4,789 personnel
  • 19 helos
  • 357 engines
  • 135 dozers
  • 52 water tenders
  • 112 crews
  • 813 other assigned resources

EVACUATIONS

Photo Credit: CAL FIRE

Pertinent evacuation information, road closures, and other important updates can be found on the CAL FIRE website https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/8/1/gifford-fire.

About 212 total residents have been evacuated at this time.

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

• SLO County Phone Assistance Center from 8AM–8PM: (805) 543-2444
• Animal Assistance from 8AM-5PM: (805) 781-4800
• Large Animal / Horse Lodging: (805) 781-1404
• Horse Emergency Evacuation Team (HEET): (805) 466-7457
• Santa Barbara County Hotline: (833) 688-5551

If you have a trailer and are AVAILABLE to help us continue to evacuate livestock out of the new fire zone orders this morning in the Lopez and Huasna areas, please call/text us at (805) 550-0213. Requests are pouring in, and we want to be able to provide support without excessive delay.

Photo Credit: Los Padres National Forest (USFS)



Please contact HEET – Horse Emergency Evacuation Team of San Luis Obispo County if you have a horse trailer and can assist with evacuation in the stated area this morning.
➡️ Call or text 805-550-0213 ⬅️

THREATENED

  • Machesna Mountain Wilderness.
  • Communities.
  • Energy infrastructure.
  • Communication infrastructure.
  • 1,399 strucutres

DAMAGE ASSESSMENT

  • 5 structures lost.
  • CTD: 127 Million Dollars.

INJURIES

  • 3 confirmed civilians.
  • 9 confirmed firefighters.

(c) 2025 NW FIRE BLOG