The Gifford fire in central California has burned more than 100,000 acres as of Friday, becoming the state's largest blaze of the year so far. Newsweek has contacted the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) for further comment via an email sent outside regular business hours.

Gifford started along Highway 166 east of Santa Maria, adjacent to the footprint of the year’s previous biggest fire: Madre, which last month burned 80,779 acres in the Carrizo Plain area. Evacuation orders for Gifford covered almost 600 square miles, and Highway 166 was closed between Highway 101 and New Cuyama.