Madre Fire burning over 52,500 acres in California, largest in the state this year
A wildfire broke out in California Wednesday and rapidly spread to burn over 52,500 acres, making it the largest in the state this year, to state fire officials.
"As we approach the holiday weekend, the Madre Fire, the largest of 2025, is a stark reminder of potential dangers," the U.S. Forest Service in a statement.
California Interagency Incident Management Team 8 will assume command of the fire at 7:00 p.m., July 4, officials said.
The fire began in the Los Padres National Forest, nearly two acres of federally managed land area in Central California, and has prompted evacuation orders, warnings, and highway closures in residential San Luis Obispo County around 100 miles north of Los Angeles and now Kern County is experiencing various levels of evacuations.
Earlier this year the Palisades and Eaton Fires killed 30 people and burned 23,707 acres and 14,021 acres. The fires destroyed more than 12,000 structures and forced around 200,000 residents to evacuate the Los Angeles area.
Cal Fire has deployed air crews and ground resources to assist the Forest Service, as it is spreading off federal land and "now moving toward state areas," according to Governor Newsom's office. The state is "operating in Unified Command with our federal and local partners to protect lives, property, and communities," Newsom's office added.
"With the current weather, terrain, and fuels conditions this fire has seen exponential growth in less than 24 hours," the U.S. Forest Service said in a Thursday when the fire grew to more than 35,000 acres.
The Bureau of Land Management and the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office said they are working alongside fire personnel. Officials said a full response was initiated that included seven air tankers, and two helicopters along with multiple engines and hand crews with 608 personnel. Cal Fire officials said the Madre Fire is 10% contained and threatened 50 structures, and they are not yet aware of any injuries or damage.
Smoke from the fire is spreading over Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, the National Weather Service.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, Cal Fire's website said.
