[Update: Thu., July 3, 5:36pm] The Madre Fire has expanded to 52,593 acres as of 5:17 p.m. on Thursday, still with only 5 percent containment, according to CalFire. Now the largest fire of 2025 in the state, there are 303 total personnel including 39 engines, four helicopters, four water tenders, and two handcrews on the scene as of 1:23 p.m.

The fire sparked in the Los Padres National Forest in San Luis Obispo County and was growing exponentially, officials warned. The area is mostly uninhabited.

According to Cal Fire, the Madre Fire started at 1:07 p.m. along state Route 166 near New Cuyama, which is a major road on the way to Las Vegas. The blaze was at 9,800 acres and zero containment as of 10:11 p.m.