The Gifford Fire has scorched more than 83,000 acres of California's Central Coast, becoming the state's largest wildfire of the year so far. The massive wildfire burning in eastern San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties was 9% contained as of Wednesday, Aug. 6, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Gifford started along Highway 166 east of Santa Maria, adjacent to the footprint of the year’s previous biggest fire: Madre, which last month burned 80,779 acres in the Carrizo Plain area. Evacuation orders for Gifford covered almost 600 square miles, and Highway 166 was closed between Highway 101 and New Cuyama.

The Gifford Fire, a wildfire burning in Central California that has destroyed over 83,000 acres in six days, continues to rage and is now the largest blaze in the state this year, according to Cal Fire.