Santa Maria

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.

The Gifford Fire burning in the hills east of Santa Maria has now become California’s largest wildfire this year, surpassing the size of last month’s Madre Fire.

Evacuation orders and warnings remain in parts of SLO and Santa Barbara counties. Residents are urged to monitor for changing conditions. Hwy 166 is closed between Hwy 101 and New Cuyama.

An annual celebration of Oaxacan culture on the Central Coast has been canceled this year. Organizers say immigration raids have left local indigenous communities feeling unsafe.

A sewer improvement project in downtown Santa Maria kicked off this week. Crews have started their work between Broadway and Depot Street.

Most of the workplace raids took place in Oxnard on Tuesday with one happening in Santa Maria.In those raids, a total of 40 people were taken to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Oxnard, according to the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy, or CAUSE.

Public transit in Northern Santa Barbara County is getting a major boost. Guadalupe’s bus service will soon merge with the Santa Maria Regional Transit system (SMRT).

A new nursing bachelor degree program is set to launch at the Santa Maria Hancock College campus in collaboration with Cal State University Channel Islands.

In a 4-1 vote, Santa Maria city council this week approved a new pay and benefits package for local firefighters.

Santa Maria is tightening its rules on where large battery energy storage systems can be built, following a series of fires at energy storage facilities across California.