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CAL FIRE says Gifford Fire mostly contained after months-long response
Summary
CAL FIRE reported the Gifford Fire is 95% contained after burning about 131,589 acres; more than 5,000 firefighters were deployed at the peak and agencies are now focused on suppression repair and watershed work to reduce winter debris-flow risk.
CAL FIRE Unit Chief John Owens told the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors that the Gifford Fire, which started Aug. 1, has burned roughly 131,589 acres and is 95% contained. "At the peak, there was over 5,000 firefighters on the fire," Owens said, adding that forces have decreased to about 3,000 and are steadily diminishing as crews move from suppression to mop-up and repair work.
Owens described engineering and watershed protection measures under way to limit winter storm impacts: crews will install water bars and repair dozer and hand lines to reduce the potential for debris flows into Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. He also said federal, state and local agencies, along with out-of-state mutual aid teams, joined the response. "The United States Forest Service has deployed a Burned Area Emergency Response," he said, and CAL FIRE has activated a Watershed Emergency Response Team.
The board and public officials praised first responders and county emergency staff for communications and community outreach during evacuations. Supervisor Moreno said the county’s regular updates and community meetings were “exactly what our community needed.” The report noted five structures (four outbuildings and one residence) were lost in Santa Barbara County; none were reported lost in San Luis Obispo County.
