What is the name and location of the wildfire?

As of July 7, 2025, the Madre Fire is largely uncontained and has burned 80,480 in Central California, specifically along Highway 166, about 25 miles east of Santa Maria (1)(2). It is burning in a remote part of the Los Padres National Forest and has spread onto the Carrizo Plain.

By acreage, the Madre fire is currently the largest wildfire in California of 2025.

Which cities or areas are affected by the Madre wildfire?

A largely rural fire, the Madre fire is affecting Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County, and Ventura County.

Wildfire smoke has impacted air quality in several cities, including:

• Bakersfield
• Cuyama
• Maricopa
• New Cuyama
• Santa Clarita

What is the current containment status of the Madre wildfire?

As of July 7, the Madre Fire is approximately 30% contained (3).

Firefighting efforts are ongoing, with multiple agencies involved, including the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), the Bureau of Land Management, and local resources. The fire has rapidly grown to over 35,000 acres, posing significant challenges to containment efforts due to hot and dry conditions, as well as gusty winds.

Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?

According to CalFire, evacuation orders have been issued for 15 zones (4).

Evacuation warnings are in place for 13 additional zones.

A temporary evacuation point has been established at the CA Valley CSD located at 13080 Soda Lake Rd, Santa Margarita, CA 93453.

How can I protect myself from wildfire smoke?

Always plan ahead to protect yourself from wildfire smoke.

• Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
• Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
• Run a high-performance air purifier to filter wildfire smoke.
• Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
• Stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.

As of July 7, 2025, this fire is 30% contained.