SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Gifford Fire officials will host a community meeting Thursday, Aug. 7, at 6 p.m. at Santa Barbara County Fire Station 23, 5003 Depot St., Santa Maria, with a livestream on YouTube and Facebook. Later that evening, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office will hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. at the Loomis Family Barn, 8451 Huasna Road, Arroyo Grande, where Gifford Fire officials will provide updates.
The fire began Aug. 1 along Highway 166, west of Cuyama, and is under unified command between Los Padres National Forest and Santa Barbara County Fire. Strong overnight winds pushed flames toward Huasna and Willis Ranch, prompting new evacuation orders west of Pine Ridge and Haystack Canyon.
Today, smoke from the fire can be seen as far as Atascadero…