Gifford Fire crews are shifting resources north and preparing for a 36-hour tactical firing operation as part of a new defensive strategy, Operations Section Chief Spencer Andreis said during a Monday operational update.
“The work is intended to control what the fire does, conversely where the fire has been controlling what we do,” he said.
Santa Barbara County Fire Capt. Scott Safechuck said tactical firing operations differ from a backfire or controlled burn because they are conducted much closer to the fire’s edge, targeting smaller areas of brush and vegetation in the fire’s immediate path.
“It’s using fire to fight fire on our terms versus (the) fire’s terms,” he said.
The firing operation, which has been in development for the past three to four days, is tentatively set to begin Monday evening, according to Andreis.
Crews plan to work along the fire’s north perimeter, using established control lines, ridges and roads around the Garcia Wilderness.
Crews plan to use ground and aerial ignition methods, with holding teams working behind them to keep the fire within containment lines.
Helicopters, water-dropping aircraft and incident meteorologists will provide additional support throughout the operation.
The wildfire has burned 119,214 acres and was 33% contained Monday, with 4,396 personnel assigned and 2,922 structures threatened, according to fire officials.
The blaze started Aug. 1 about 15 miles northeast of Santa Maria.
Santa Barbara County canceled some evacuation orders and warnings for the Gifford Fire Monday afternoon.
Shift to Northern Base Camp
The fire incident base camp has largely shifted personnel from the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo Grounds to Santa Margarita, reflecting the fire’s movement toward northern San Luis Obispo County, Safechuck said.
Two base camps remain open, but most resources are now stationed at the larger Santa Margarita site to support firefighting in that area.
Caltrans Repairs to Highway 166
Highway 166 between Santa Maria and New Cuyama will remain closed until Caltrans repairs damaged guardrails, culverts and unstable slopes, fire and transit officials said Monday.
Work to reopen Highway 166 is ongoing, with no estimated completion date. The closure has restricted access between Santa Maria and New Cuyama, though some residents and workers are being allowed through checkpoints under strict exceptions.
Caltrans spokesman Kevin Drabinski said crews are repairing fire-damaged guardrails, slopes and culverts.
Some culvert repairs are complete and others can be handled later under one-way traffic control without delaying the reopening, but guardrail damage and unstable slopes must still be addressed before the route can fully reopen, Drabinski said.
Geotechnical crews are assessing multiple locations for rockfall hazards caused by vegetation loss on slopes above the highway.
Rock-scaling work, where crews rappel down slopes to knock off loose debris, is planned for the next two to three days. Drabinski said these repairs can proceed independently of fire operations.
Below is a video from Safechuck that shows culvert repair work on Highway 166 over the weekend.
#GiffordFire: Videos from the last several days. (Continued).
Hwy 166 repairs underway / culvert repairs. pic.twitter.com/fXoO6S7mD3— Scott Safechuck (@SBCFireInfo) August 11, 2025
Weather & Air Quality Forecast
Incident meteorologist Rich Thompson with the National Weather Service said current forecasts support the 36-hour tactical firing operation tentatively scheduled to begin Monday evening.
“When they do a burn plan like this, they consider all parameters, including the weather, because weather can make or break these operations,” he said.
Northwest winds are expected along ridgetops and mountaintops through early Monday evening before shifting to north-north easterly late in the evening.
Thompson said very dry conditions persist at higher elevations where most of the fire is burning. The Garcia Wilderness, where part of the operation will take place, has not burned in modern history and contains heavy fuels, he said.
Burning those areas ahead of the main fire removes vegetation, dulls the intensity and gives firefighters a better chance to attack it directly.
Safechuck said smoke impacts for nearby communities will depend on overall fire activity and the type of vegetation being burned, with heavier fuels producing more smoke than grass.
Given Thompson’s description of the Garcia Wilderness as containing heavy fuels, the tactical firing operation there could generate increased smoke during the burn period.
The air quality forecast shows moderate conditions in parts of Santa Barbara County, particularly near the fire area and downwind communities. Officials advise vulnerable residents to use N95 masks if available.
Evacuation Information
Santa Barbara County canceled some evacuation orders and warnings for the Gifford Fire Monday afternoon, including near Tepusquet Canyon and New Cuyama.
Evacuation information for Santa Barbara County is available at ReadySBC.org and updates for San Luis Obispo County can be found at ReadySLO.org.
Sheltering assistance for evacuees is available through the American Red Cross at 805.678.3073.
Animal evacuation sites remain open in both counties with details and regularly updated Gifford Fire information found here.
Community Meeting in SLO
Officials will host a community meeting on the Gifford Fire from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Veterans Hall, 801 Grand Ave. in San Luis Obispo. The meeting will also be broadcast live on the Los Padres National Forest’s YouTube and Facebook pages.
