A wildfire that started Friday exploded over the weekend in Central California, burning over 65,000 acres, according to Cal Fire, with incoming warm weather possibly making it even harder to fight the blaze. 

Smoke from the growing fire has started to impact air quality in the southern region of the state. On Monday, the smoke was affecting air quality in Los Angeles, Ventura and Kern counties, according to Robbie Munroe, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Los Angeles. 

He said warming weather this week could make fighting the blaze more difficult. 

“There’s potential for building heat later in the week, especially around Thursday and Friday,” Munroe told SFGATE. “With that, we could see plume-dominated fire behavior become more common. That can create erratic and dangerous fire behavior as well.” 

Currently, 1,091 firefighters are battling the blaze, dubbed the Gifford Fire, which spans both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. It is currently 3% contained. 

“All personnel are working vigilantly to gain full suppression of this incident, though there are many challenges such as inaccessible, rugged steep terrain, and hot and dry weather conditions,” officials from the Gifford Fire public information line wrote to SFGATE in an email.

The blaze started Friday and grew exponentially over the weekend, leading officials to close state Route 166 between Interstate 101 and Perkins Road in New Cuyama, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Officials report that 460 structures in the area are currently under threat by the fire. 

Evacuation orders have been given for residents in some areas along Route 166. Up-to-date information on evacuation orders and warnings can be found on the Gifford Fire Public Information Map. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

At least three people have been injured due to the fire, including an individual who was airlifted to Marian Regional Medical Center with burn injuries. Two contractors were rescued after being injured when their utility vehicle rolled over. One of the contractors injured had to be rescued via helicopter, according to official reports released Saturday.

The Gifford Fire is burning close to where the Madre Fire burned over 80,000 acres in San Luis Obispo county earlier this summer. It has been declared fully contained.