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.

The fire rapidly spread to over 35,000 acres overnight as it burned through grasslands in a section of the Los Padres National Park. By around 9:30 p.m. PT on July 3, the fire expanded to nearly 52,

The fire has prompted evacuation orders, warnings and highway closures in San Luis Obispo County about 100 miles north of Los Angeles.