The Gifford Fire has scorched more than 96,000 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 15% contained as of Thursday, Aug. 7, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The Gifford Fire burning in California's Santa Barbara County has reached 'mega fire' status as the Golden State swelters in record-breaking heat