Latest news with #LosPadresNationalForest
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
California's largest wildfire nears 80,000 acres as smoke triggers health warnings and evacuations
The Madre Fire, now the largest wildfire in California this year, expanded to 79,630 acres by Saturday, July 5, prompting expanded evacuation orders and worsening air quality across parts of Southern California. As of Saturday morning, containment remained at 10%, officials said. The fire ignited shortly after 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2, along Highway 166 near New Cuyama in San Luis Obispo County. Pushed by strong winds, the blaze rapidly advanced east-northeast onto the Carrizo Plain, scorching tens of thousands of acres of dry brush within days. By Friday afternoon, smoke from the fire had drifted as far south as the Los Angeles metropolitan area, prompting the South Coast Air Quality Management District to issue advisories for regions including the Santa Clarita and San Gabriel valleys, and the San Bernardino Mountains. Combined with lingering smoke from Fourth of July fireworks, officials warned that particle pollution levels could reach 'unhealthy' or even 'hazardous' levels for large portions of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. Air quality alert issued across Southern California due to smoke from fireworks and wildfires In total, more than 608 firefighting personnel have been assigned to the incident, which is under Unified Command with Los Padres National Forest, the Bureau of Land Management, and Cal Fire's San Luis Obispo Unit. California Incident Management Team 8 assumed command on Friday at 7 p.m. Officials said the fire remains active, with wind-driven runs fueling continued growth along the southeastern edge. Isolated flare-ups and intense activity were reported along both the northwestern and southeastern perimeters, while large pockets of scattered fire persisted within the burn area. So far, one structure has been affected, and approximately 50 structures remain threatened. No injuries have been reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation. Evacuation orders have been issued for the following zones: LPF-017 SLC-226, SLC-240, SLC-263, SLC-264, SLC-265, SLC-298, SLC-299, SLC-300, SLC-312, SLC-313, SLC-337, SLC-338, SLC-339, SLC-358 Evacuation warnings are in effect for: SLC-225, SLC-239, SLC-266, SLC-301, SLC-359, SLC-365, SLC-366, SLC-367 KRN-245, KRN-249, KRN-259, KRN-281-B Parts of Santa Barbara County: East of the Rock Front area, west of Cottonwood Canyon Road, and south of Highway 166 A temporary evacuation shelter has been set up at the California Valley Community Services District facility, located at 13080 Soda Lake Road in Santa Margarita. For more detailed information on the evacuation and warning zones, check the Cal Fire website. Health officials continue to urge residents in smoke-affected areas to limit exposure by staying indoors with windows and doors closed. The South Coast AQMD also advised using air purifiers or air conditioning where possible and avoiding indoor pollution sources such as burning wood, using incense, or grilling. For those who must go outside, a properly fitted N95 or P100 respirator may offer limited protection against fine particulate matter. The Madre Fire is one of several large wildfires burning across the state amid dry conditions and rising summer temperatures, intensifying concerns about California's wildfire season outlook. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Madre Fire, now California's largest of the year, in images
The Madre Fire, which began last week in Los Padres National Forest, about 100 miles North of Los Angeles, has now burned more than 79,000 acres. It's an unwelcome distinction as the largest of any blaze this year in the state. As of Saturday, the wildfire was at 10% containment, with approximately 50 structures at risk and numerous residents in the San Luis Obispo County region under evacuation. Images from the battle show just how powerful the fire has been … This article originally appeared on The List Wire: California's massive Madre Fire in images
CBS News
05-07-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Some Colorado firefighters travel west to California to help with battle against Madre Fire
A crew from Evergreen Fire Rescue in Colorado was assigned to fight a wildfire that has been growing quickly in California. They've already arrived at the site of the Madre Fire, which is located in the Los Padres National Forest in the central part of the state. Evergreen Fire Rescue It is more than 70,000 acres and is the largest fire in California so far this year. The EFR crew and their Engine 183 was working on protecting a home after they arrived. A barn on that property was destroyed. Hundreds of firefighters are currently battling the fire.
CBS News
04-07-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Madre Fire burning over 70,000 acres in California, largest in the state this year
A wildfire broke out in California and has rapidly spread to burn more than 70,800 acres, making it the largest in the state this year, according to state fire officials. It's 10% contained as of Friday afternoon, Cal Fire said. The fire began Wednesday in the Los Padres National Forest, federally managed land area in Central California, and has prompted evacuation orders, warnings and highway closures in residential San Luis Obispo County about 100 miles north of Los Angeles. Kern County is also experiencing various levels of evacuations. "As we approach the holiday weekend, the Madre Fire, the largest of 2025, is a stark reminder of potential dangers," the U.S. Forest Service said in a statement. California Interagency Incident Management Team 8 will assume command of the fire at 7:00 p.m., July 4, officials said. Earlier this year the Palisades and Eaton fires killed 30 people and burned 23,707 acres and 14,021 acres. The fires destroyed more than 12,000 structures and forced around 200,000 residents to evacuate the Los Angeles area. The Madre fire in California rapidly spread to 52,500 acres, officials said. Bureau Of Land Management Cal Fire has deployed air crews and ground resources to assist the Forest Service, as it is spreading off federal land and "now moving toward state areas," according to Governor Newsom's office. The state is "operating in Unified Command with our federal and local partners to protect lives, property, and communities," Newsom's office added. "With the current weather, terrain, and fuels conditions this fire has seen exponential growth in less than 24 hours," the U.S. Forest Service said in a statement Thursday when the fire grew to more than 35,000 acres. CALIFORNIA, USA - JULY 3: A view of flames in a rural area of San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbara County as the wildfire continue in Central California, United States on July 3, 2025. As of today, 52,600 Acres have been burned and 10% contained. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images The Bureau of Land Management and the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office said they are working alongside fire personnel. Officials said a full response was initiated that included seven air tankers, and two helicopters along with multiple engines and hand crews with 608 personnel. Cal Fire officials said the Madre Fire is 10% contained and threatened 50 structures, and they are not yet aware of any injuries or damage. Smoke from the fire is spreading over Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, the National Weather Service said. The cause of the fire is under investigation, Cal Fire's website said. Firefighters work to contain Madre Fire in California. Bureau Of Land Management
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
California's Madre Fire surges across 52,000 acres to become state's biggest blaze this year
The Madre Fire has become California's largest wildfire of the year after it spread to more than 52,000 acres in under 48 hours. In a historic year of deadly brush fires for the state, the blaze erupted Wednesday afternoon in the remote Los Padres National Forest in San Luis Obispo County, about 120 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Fanned by strong winds and dry vegetation, the fire quickly engulfed 35,000 acres through Wednesday evening before scorching nearly 52,600 acres – an area larger than Washington, D.C. – by 9 p.m. Thursday, according to Cal Fire. 'The Madre Fire continues to grow,' the U.S. Forest Service warned in a statement Friday morning. 'As we approach the holiday weekend, the Madre Fire, the largest of 2025, is a stark reminder of potential dangers.' Cal Fire officials also pleaded with Americans ahead of the Fourth of July weekend to 'celebrate responsibly' and not 'turn a joyous holiday into a painful event' by mishandling fireworks, sparking further wildfires. The Madre Fire was just 10 percent contained Thursday evening with more than 590 firefighting personnel deployed to put out the flames, officials said. It continued to burn Friday morning near State Route 166, which connects the Central Coast to the southern San Joaquin Valley. A portion of the highway between its intersection with Highway 101 in Santa Maria and the town of New Cuyama has been closed, according to California's Department of Transportation. Fifteen evacuation order zones had been issued by Thursday evening, including for small communities near Highway 166, according to the San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services. An evacuation warning was put into effect Friday morning in Kern County near the southwest portion of the county line. More than 200 residents had been evacuated, the San Luis Obispo County Fire Department said. Only three customers remained without electricity Friday morning, according to Smoke billowed south of the blaze over Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, the National Weather Service in Los Angeles said. It also impacted Kern County to the fire's northeast, officials said. The cause of the Madre Fire is still being investigated, as officials grapple with dozens of smaller brush fires smoldering across the state. In its latest update, California Governor Gavin Newsom's press office said that 'the state remains in lockstep with our federal partners,' and had sent 'significant air support' and ground crews to try and extinguish the blaze. The governor has faced a string of highly destructive wildfires this year after the Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire and Hughes Fire broke out in Los Angeles in January. The three fires took more than 30 lives and scorched about 47,000 acres, with the flames being fanned by a fierce windstorm known as the Santa Ana winds. More than 15,000 structures were destroyed and hundreds of thousands of residents were placed under evacuation orders. The Hughes Fire was spreading at an estimated speed of 23 football fields per minute. Just days after returning to the White House, Donald Trump visited LA to survey the wildfire damage after threatening to withhold federal assistance from California and accusing the governor of restricting access to state water reserves. After the Border 2 Fire erupted in San Diego County in late January, officials warned that rains brought another deadly threat: mudslides, flash floods, and debris flows. Last month, the Mexico Assist Fire had been burning for 12 days and devoured about 26,000 acres before it was discovered on June 19 by fire crews. Cal Fire's latest status report from June 27 said that the fire was zero percent contained.
