Santa Margarita

Fire officials say progress is steady on the Gifford Fire burning in California’s Central Coast. Since August 1st, the blaze has scorched more than 131,000 acres and is 95% contained.

Gifford Fire containment is increasing, but the fire is still burning in many areas across more than 132,000 acres. As firefighting efforts wind down, new challenges are emerging, including erosion prevention.

Firefighters gained ground on the Gifford Fire, which continues to burn along the eastern edge of California’s Central Coast. With cooler weather on the way and containment slowly improving, crews are pushing forward with strategic operations.

The Gifford Fire has burned more than 122,000 acres in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, and it's still about 20 miles from Santa Margarita.

The ongoing Gifford Fire in eastern San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties continues to spread as containment increases.

Quagga and zebra mussels disrupt food chains and clog water pipelines across California. San Luis Obispo County is applying for state funding to prevent that from happening in Lopez and Santa Margarita Lakes.

A SLO County family is reopening its native plant nursery after the COVID-19 pandemic forced a temporary closure.

The small, unincorporated town of Santa Margarita has one of the last volunteer fire stations in San Luis Obispo County. It’s an important training ground for local firefighters, but it’s also facing challenges like storm damage and low funding.

The Santa Margarita Fire Department is receiving a $10,000 wildfire safety grant provided by PG&E and the California Fire Foundation to help strengthen disaster response along the central coast.

In a 2-2 decision, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors voted April 6 to deny an appeal for a cannabis cultivation site in the community of…