The Gifford Fire isn’t the largest blaze in SLO County history. How it compares
The Gifford Fire is massive — but it’s not the largest blaze the Central Coast has ever seen.
After burning for 15 days, the Gifford Fire scorched 132,605 acres in the backcountry of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, injuring nine, destroying five structures and forcing the evacuation of multiple neighborhoods.
The Gifford Fire is split between two counties, with about 83,846 acres in San Luis Obispo County and about 47,871 acres in Santa Barbara County as of Friday, according to Cal Fire.
By Friday, the blaze was 61% contained, which means it likely won’t significantly expand in the coming days.
At that acreage, the Gifford Fire is the third-largest wildfire in modern San Luis Obispo County history and the eighth-largest wildfire in Santa Barbara County, according to 75 years of Cal Fire records.
Here’s a look at the largest fires on the Central Coast in modern history.
What are SLO County’s largest fires in past 75 years?
1. Highway 58 Fire: 106,970 acres
The Highway 58 Fire ignited on Aug. 15, 1996, and burned 106,970 acres, according to Cal Fire data.
The blaze sparked beside Highway 58 and Shell Creek Road and spread into the Los Padres National Forest, destroying 13 homes before firefighters contained the fire just east of Pozo, according to previous Tribune reporting.
2. Las Pilitas Fire: 84,271 acres
The Las Pilitas Fire ignited on July 1, 1985, and burned 84,271 acres, Cal Fire data said.
The blaze started near Santa Margarita Lake, then damaged 10 homes and traveled down the Cuesta Grade before firefighters halted its progress at the edge of San Luis Obispo, according to previous Tribune reporting.
3. Gifford Fire: 83,846 acres
Since igniting on Aug. 1, the Gifford Fire has burned about 83,846 acres in San Luis Obispo County.
The blaze started as multiple fires along Highway 166, then spread southeast into Santa Barbara County and northwest into the Garcia Wilderness.
4. Madre Fire: 80,779 acres
The Madre Fire burned 80,779 acres in southeastern San Luis Obispo County after igniting beside Highway 166 near New Cuyama after igniting on July 2, according to Cal Fire.
The blaze destroyed one structure and resulted in two firefighter injuries.
5. Big Dalton Fire: 67,702 acres
The Big Dalton Fire ignited on July 10, 1953, and burned 67,702 acres, according to Cal Fire data.
6. Weferling Fire: 51,451 acres
The Weferling Fire ignited on July 17, 1960, and burned 51,451 acres, according to Cal Fire data.
7. Highway 41 Fire: 50,729 acres
The Highway 41 Fire ignited on Aug. 14, 1994, and burned 50,729 acres, Cal Fire data said.
One of the more destructive fires in SLO County history, it damaged 42 homes, 61 other structures and 91 vehicles, according to previous Tribune reporting.
8. Logan Fire: 49,490 acres
The Logan Fire ignited on Aug. 4, 1997, and burned 49,490 acres, according to Cal Fire data.
9. Chimney Fire: 46,234 acres
The Chimney Fire ignited on Aug. 13, 2016, and burned 46,234 acres, according to Cal Fire data.
This fire was also significantly destructive, burning 49 homes and 21 other structures. It sparked near Lake Nacimiento, then traveled down the Santa Lucia ridge line before halting 2 miles away from Hearst Castle.
10. Buckeye Fire: 42,307 acres
The Buckeye Fire ignited on Sept. 27, 1970, and burned 42,307 acres, according to Cal Fire data.
What are Santa Barbara County’s largest fires?
Here is a list of Santa Barbara County’s largest wildfires since 1950, according to Cal Fire data:
- Thomas Fire: Ignited Dec. 4, 2017, and burned 281,791 acres
- Zaca Fire: Ignited July 4, 2007, and burned 240,359 acres
- Wheeler #2 Fire: Ignited July 1, 1985, and burned 122,687 acres
- La Brea Fire: Ignited Aug. 8, 2009, and burned 97,815 acres
- Wellman Fire: Ignited in June 1966 and burned 97,118 acres
- Refugio Fire: Ignited Sept. 6, 1955, and burned 79,429 acres
- Coyote Fire: Ignited Sept. 22, 1964, and burned 65,339 acres
- Gifford Fire: Ignited Aug. 1, 2025, and burned about 47,871 acres
- Marre Fire: Ignited Sept. 25, 1993, and burned 43,822 acres
- Lake Fire: Ignited July 5, 2024, and burned 38,610 acres
