Temporary evacuation sites were established at Benjamin Foxen Elementary School in Santa Maria and the Cuyama Valley Family Resource Center in New Cuyama, Cal Fire said. The agency also reported that Highway 166 was closed between Highway 101 and New Cuyama.

Fire managers for the U.S. Forest Service put Gifford at 49,761 acres (77 square miles), with 3% containment. Three people were reported injured: a civilian who was burned, and two contractors who were injured in an off-road utility vehicle’s rollover.

Nearly 2,000 firefighters are fighting a battle against the Gifford wildfire in central California that has already burned more than 72,000 acres.