The Gifford Fire, the largest blaze currently burning in California, has topped 65,000 acres as it continued to rage out of control 15 miles northeast of

The Gifford Fire was first reported Friday near the Gifford trailhead in Los Padres National Forest, around 15 miles east of Santa Maria. It quickly ballooned to more than 23,000 acres within 24 hours.

The Gifford Fire continued to burn Monday in California’s Central Coast region, prompting expanded evacuation orders and road closures as the blaze grew to more than 65,000 acres. The fire, which ignited Friday afternoon northeast of Santa Maria in the Los Padres National Forest,