California’s Madre wildfire explodes; scorching over 70,800 acres of land, fire officials warn of ‘extreme’ weather conditions

The Madre Fire in California has surged to become the state’s largest active wildfire, engulfing approximately 70,800 acres north of Santa Barbara. Ignited on Wednesday, the blaze rapidly expanded, charring parts of Los Padres National Park and prompting the closure of the Carrizo Plain National Monument.