The Gifford Fire burning in central California has burned more than 119,000 acres as of early Monday, having expanded to reach "megafire" status since it began earlier in August. Newsweek contacted U.S. Forest Service for comment via email on Monday.

Burning over 100,000 acres in Los Padres National Forest, it has triggered evacuations and poses a long-term threat due to dry conditions, rugged terrain and a buildup of fire-prone vegetation.

CAL FIRE wrote on X on Friday: "California is under a heat wave, bringing hot, dry, and windy conditions, making wildfires more likely to occur and to spread fast. When temps soar, even a tiny spark can ignite disaster."

Aug. 9 federal fire update. It’s burning in a remote area of the Los Padres National Forest that has prompted road closures and evacuations in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, located about 180 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

The Gifford Fire burning through the rugged backcountry of California's Central Coast is now the state's largest wildfire of the year. It has reached so-called "mega-fire" status and is one of 38 large fires burning across nine states.