With fire crews bracing for hotter, dryer weather, the evacuation zone was expanded for California’s biggest fire of the season. Wednesday’s new orders were for an area near the north edge of the Gifford Fire, burning since last week in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. The expansion brought the zone to 660 square miles.

The new orders were for an area near the west edge of Gifford, burning since last week in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.

Temporary evacuation sites were established at Benjamin Foxen Elementary School in Santa Maria and the Cuyama Valley Family Resource Center in New Cuyama, Cal Fire said. The agency also reported that Highway 166 was closed between Highway 101 and New Cuyama.