Since it started on Friday afternoon, the Gifford Fire -- which is situated within the Los Padres National Forest in Solvang, California -- has burned 83,933 acres and has only reached 9% containment, prompting evacuation orders for those in the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, officials said.

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) — Rising temperatures on Wednesday posed new challenges for firefighters who have made incremental progress against a massive wildfire in central California that injured four people as it became the biggest blaze in the state so far this year.

The Gifford Fire in Central California has grown into the state’s largest wildfire of the year, burning over 82,000 acres with minimal containment. Crews are battling extreme fire conditions fueled by dry vegetation and high winds,