With fire crews bracing for hotter, dryer weather, the evacuation zone was expanded for California’s biggest fire of the season. Wednesday’s new orders were for an area near the north edge of the Gifford Fire, burning since last week in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. The expansion brought the zone to 660 square miles.

The Gifford Fire in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties is now the largest California wildfire of the year with over 82,000 acres burned, and officials warn it could get significantly worse when hot and dry weather hits the region this week.

The Gifford Fire in Central California has grown into the state’s largest wildfire of the year, burning over 82,000 acres with minimal containment. Crews are battling extreme fire conditions fueled by dry vegetation and high winds,