Firefighting aircraft drops fire retardant on the Wolf Fire near Highway 243 in Banning, Calif., on Monday, June 30, 2025.
San Luis Obispo County, California – A wildfire burning in the remote wilderness of central California exploded in size Thursday, fueled by intense heat, dry brush, and gusting winds just as the state prepared for Fourth of July celebrations. The Madre Fire, which ignited Wednesday in southeastern San Luis Obispo County, had scorched more than 82 square miles by evening, becoming California’s largest blaze of 2025.
The fire’s rapid expansion has prompted evacuation orders and warnings for rural communities along State Route 166. As of Thursday night, the fire was just 10% contained. Firefighters faced mounting challenges as the blaze pushed eastward toward the Carrizo Plain National Monument—an ecologically sensitive expanse of grassland known for its spring wildflower blooms. The region lies about 125 miles northwest of Los Angeles and 45 miles from Santa Maria.
Crews battling the flames contend not only with the size and pace of the fire, but also the geography. The hilly terrain around the monument makes it difficult for fire engines and bulldozers to operate, forcing some crews to work on foot in 95-degree heat. As the sun dipped below the horizon, conditions worsened. Meteorologists warned that wind gusts could reach 40 miles per hour Thursday night, a pattern that often turns daylight firefighting progress into overnight setbacks.
“The winds are pretty light during the day, but they do pick up pretty substantially in the afternoon and evening hours,” said Ryan Kittell of the National Weather Service, noting that this recurring pattern is common during California’s fire season—and especially dangerous when paired with high temperatures and dry vegetation.
The cause of the Madre Fire remains under investigation. But its explosive growth has underscored longstanding concerns about the growing volatility of California’s fire seasons. As global temperatures rise and drought conditions persist, the state’s landscapes—particularly grasslands like those in San Luis Obispo County—are becoming increasingly susceptible to rapid ignition and spread.
While the Madre Fire drew the most attention Thursday, it was not the only blaze troubling fire crews across California. In Riverside County, the Wolf Fire, which began June 29, reached 55% containment after burning more than 3.7 square miles of dry brush. And in Los Angeles, an unrelated structure fire in the Pacoima neighborhood destroyed four homes Thursday night. Authorities reported fireworks exploding at the scene and confirmed one woman had been hospitalized in critical condition.
As the holiday weekend begins, fire officials are urging extreme caution. With fireworks already contributing to one serious incident and weather conditions expected to remain volatile, the risk of new ignitions looms large. For communities near the frontlines—and for those across the state watching smoke rise on the horizon—the Fourth of July arrives under the shadow of fire.
