The Madre Fire was reported shortly after noon Wednesday, July 2, along Highway 166 about 25 miles east of Santa Maria.

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. California has already been hit with massive wildfires this year,

A wildfire in California’s San Luis Obispo County rapidly expanded overnight and was covering more than 35,000 acres on Thursday morning, prompting evacuation orders, closing part of a highway and sending thick smoke billowing into neighboring counties.