US EditionAir Quality Watch for Santa Barbara County in the Midst of Madre Fire | News Channel 3-12
- The Madre Fire started Wednesday afternoon near Highway 166 in Los Padres National Forest and has rapidly burned over 35,000 acres by Thursday afternoon.
- The fire spread rapidly due to exceptionally dry conditions during the winter and spring months that left vegetation parched, with climate expert Daniel Swain cautioning that further drying in the coming weeks will intensify fire risk later this season.
- According to the leader of the San Luis Obispo Fire Safe Council, shifting winds clash along the ridge top, which drives the wildfire to spread rapidly—covering three to four thousand acres per hour—as firefighting teams wait for calmer conditions to improve safety.
- Officials closed Highway 166 and established an evacuation zone as heavy smoke from the Madre Fire affected air quality throughout Santa Barbara County, prompting local health authorities to alert residents about potential air pollution hazards until conditions improve.
- Officials advise residents to limit outdoor activity, stay indoors, and use N-95 masks if working outside, while the fire remains uncontained and its cause is under investigation.
28 Articles
28 Articles
Fears are being expressed of a particularly dangerous summer, as Trump makes cuts to federal agencies tasked with dealing with climate disasters.
California’s biggest fire this year forces evacuations as Trump slashes federal disaster response funding
LOS ANGELES, July 4 — More than 300 firefighters battled yesterday a massive blaze in California, which is dreading summer wildfires at a time when President Donald Trump is gutting federal agencies tasked with fighting climate disaster. The “Madre Fire” broke out on Wednesday in San Luis Obispo, a rural county in the heart of the US state. Around 200 people were ordered to evacuate, with dozens of buildings threatened by the flames. It is the l…
Madre Fire Explodes Into California’s Largest Blaze of 2025 - American Faith
The Madre Fire in California surged to 35,530 acres in under 24 hours, becoming the state’s largest wildfire of the year. Fueled by dry grass, high temperatures, and gusty winds, the blaze erupted Wednesday near State Route 166 east of Santa Maria and is primarily burning through federal lands in San Luis Obispo County. The fire, which ignited around 1 p.m., rapidly consumed 3,300 acres in its first two hours. It has since expanded east and nort…
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