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Evacuations Ongoing as San Luis Obispo's Madre Fire Scorches Tens of Thousands of Acres
ANTHONY SITE PHOTO
By Anthony W. Haddad
Published 3 months ago on
July 10, 2025

The Madre Fire near New Cuyama has burned over 80,000 acres, injured one firefighter, and prompted evacuation orders and warnings across multiple zones. (CalFire)

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A massive wildfire burning along Highway 166 near New Cuyama has scorched more than 80,000 acres and is about two-thirds contained, CalFire reported Thursday morning.

The Madre Fire, which began on July 2, has burned 80,786 acres and is 67% contained. The cause remains under investigation.

The blaze, burning in San Luis Obispo County, is being managed under unified command by Los Padres National Forest, CalFire’s San Luis Obispo Unit, and the Bureau of Land Management.

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One firefighter has been injured battling the flames. At least one structure has been destroyed, and 50 remain threatened. No civilian injuries or fatalities have been reported.

Evacuation Orders, Warnings

Evacuation orders have been issued for zones LPF-017, SLC-240, SLC-263, SLC-264, SLC-298, SLC-299, SLC-312, SLC-337, SLC-338, and SLC-358.

Evacuation warnings are in effect for zones SLC-226, SLC-265, SLC-300, SLC-313, and SLC-339.

A total of 1,330 personnel are assigned to the fire, supported by 76 engines, 35 water tenders, 14 dozers, 34 hand crews, and five helicopters.

Numerous air tankers are also being used as weather conditions allow, CalFire said.

For the latest evacuation and road information, residents can visit ReadySLO and Caltrans websites. Fire updates are available at InciWeb.

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Anthony W. Haddad,
Multimedia Journalist
Anthony W. Haddad, who graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with his undergraduate degree and attended Fresno State for a MBA, is the Swiss Army knife of GV Wire. He writes stories, manages social media, and represents the organization on the ground.

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