The Gifford Fire burning in central California has burned more than 119,000 acres as of early Monday, having expanded to reach "megafire" status since it began earlier in August. Newsweek contacted U.S. Forest Service for comment via email on Monday.

The Gifford Fire has scorched more than 96,000 acres of California’s Central Coast, becoming the state’s largest wildfire of the year so far. The massive wildfire burning in eastern San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties was 15% contained as of Thursday, Aug. 7, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.