The Madre and Gifford fires have to date scorched more than 200,000 acres on the Central Coast. Why was the area so susceptible?

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The Gifford Fire grew by around 3,000 acres overnight as fire crews initiated strategic burns and worked to corral the wildfire away from major population centers in San Luis Obispo County.

The Gifford Fire originated in the city of Solvang, about 15 miles northeast of Santa Maria, and was 37% contained as of Tuesday, fire officials said.

Evacuation orders expanded to zones SLC-193, SLC-194, SLC-221, SLC-224, which include the areas of Pozo Road, Santa Margarita ...