A California wildfire continues to rage out of control and has now burned 79,630 acres, according to Cal Fire.

[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.

California’s largest wildfire of the year grew to an estimated 70,801 acres Friday, producing smoke that has affected millions of residents across the southern part of the state. The Madre Fire in San Luis Obispo County erupted early Wednesday afternoon near the small town of New Cuyama along Highway 166 on the Carrizo Plain,