A massive California wildfire has prompted evacuation orders and a highway closure. The Madre Fire ignited Wednesday afternoon in San Luis Obispo County, according to Cal Fire. It has since grown to 79,936 acres and is 30% contained as of Sunday, fire officials said.

Firefighters on the ground and in the air are making significant progress in containing California’s largest wildfire of 2025. The Madre Fire, which broke out shortly after 1 p.m. on July 2 on the

The Madre Fire was reported shortly after noon Wednesday, July 2, along Highway 166 about 25 miles east of Santa Maria.