A rapidly spreading wildfire is endangering hundreds of structures, having already burned over 82,000 acres (approximately 332 square kilometers) in less than five days in Central California, according to officials.

Known as the Gifford Fire, the blaze ignited Friday afternoon when four separate fires along a California highway merged into one, currently raging along Santa Lucia Road in both San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, as reported by the US Forest Service and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Officials indicated that the fire is threatening more than 870 structures and was only 7 percent contained as of Tuesday morning, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Evacuation orders have been issued for residents in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.

“Residents should be alert to changing conditions in their area due to unpredictable fire behavior,” warned officials from the US Forest Service in an incident update.

With a warming and drying trend expected to persist from Wednesday through the weekend, firefighters will continue to establish contingency lines on both the north and south flanks, authorities noted.

More than 1,900 personnel are assigned to combat the fire, along with 40 hand crews, 115 engines, 23 bulldozers, and 30 water tenders, all supported by air tankers and helicopters, according to InciWeb, a US interagency all-risk incident information management system.

The fire is advancing through steep terrain and generating a significant smoke column, stated Capt. Scott Safechuck, a spokesperson for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

“Much of it is in extremely inaccessible areas where even bulldozers cannot reach,” Safechuck remarked, adding that aircraft are being deployed to assist in the firefighting efforts.

The smoke is expected to impact parts of Southwest California, as noted by the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles office, which highlighted that wildfire smoke poses a health risk. The smoke is anticipated to drift toward the south and east.