SANTA MARGARITA, Calif. – CAL FIRE SLO crews are on scene for a vegetation fire at Topaz Solar Farm in Santa Margarita that first arose just before 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

— San Luis Obispo County Fire Department (@CALFIRE_SLO) June 14, 2025. By Saturday evening, the fire, which was then being called the Bitter Fire, had ballooned to 836 acres.

The Madre Fire in California has burned over 35,000 acres, becoming the largest wildfire of 2025. With only 5% containment, it has forced evacuations and closed Highway 166.

“This is exactly why we do prescribed burns,” said David Erickson, a forester for Cal Fire SLO, in the release. “They don’t just help the environment and improve habitat — they can be the difference ...