SANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) — Rising temperatures on Wednesday posed new challenges for firefighters who have made incremental progress against a massive wildfire in central California that has injured four people as it has become the biggest blaze in the state so far this year.

The Gifford Fire in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties is now the largest California wildfire of the year with over 82,000 acres burned, and officials warn it could get significantly worse when hot and dry weather hits the region this week.

Rising temperatures on Wednesday posed new challenges for firefighters who have made incremental progress against a massive wildfire in central California that injured four people as it became the biggest blaze in the state so far this year.