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Nick Mordowanec is a Newsweek investigative reporter based in Michigan. His focus includes U.S. and international politics and policies, immigration, crime and social issues. Other reporting has covered education, economics, and wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Nick joined Newsweek in 2021 from The Oakland Press, and his reporting has been featured in The Detroit News and other publications. His reporting on the opioid epidemic garnered a statewide Michigan Press Association award. The Michigan State University graduate can be reached at n.mordowanec@newsweek.com.

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A California wildfire that started on Wednesday afternoon continues to burn, having destroyed over 35,000 acres as of Thursday afternoon, with only a tiny portion contained.

Why It Matters

California has already been hit with massive wildfires this year, notably those that demolished parts of Southern California in January. The Palisades and Eaton fires across thousands of acres killed dozens, caused the destruction of thousands of buildings, and prompted mass evacuations that forced residents to swiftly relocate or risk losing their lives.

Earlier this week, the Wolf fire burned roughly 2,400 acres.

What To Know

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) says the Madre fire began at 1:07 p.m. local time Wednesday.

As of 1:23 p.m. local time on Thursday, 35,530 acres of federally owned land had been burned, and just 5 percent of the fire had been contained.

Agencies tending to the Madre fire include the Los Padres National Forest, CAL FIRE San Luis Obispo, and the Bureau of Land Management.

"With the current weather, terrain, and fuels conditions this fire has seen exponential growth in less than 24 hours in multiple counties surrounding the San Luis Obispo County area," the U.S. Forest Service posted Wednesday on Facebook. "Smoke impacts will be far reaching."

At the outset of the blaze, the San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Office estimated that some 500 acres were already burned at the scene, near the 10000 block of Highway 166 in the Los Padres National Forest. They warned the fire was spreading "rapidly."

Highway 166 was closed by authorities, and an evacuation zone was declared, with officials urging residents to leave the area.

Cal Fire deployed air crews and ground resources to assist the U.S. Forest Service as it spreads off federal land and "now moving toward state areas," California Governor Gavin Newsom's office said on Wednesday on X, formerly Twitter.

What People Are Saying

National Weather Service Los Angeles, Tuesday on X: "Visible satellite shows the #MadreFire affecting interior San Luis Obispo County, with a smoke plume spreading SE of the fire over Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. In the latest update, the fire is over 8300 acres."

California Governor Gavin Newsom's office, Wednesday on X: "The state has surged significant @CAL_FIRE resources to support this federal fire—operating in Unified Command with our federal and local partners to protect lives, property, and communities."

What Happens Next

Crews continue to try to reduce the impact of the flames. The cause of the Madre fire is under investigation.

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