Sandy Fire in Simi Valley Grows to 836 Acres, Ventura County Fire Department Says

The Sandy Fire in Simi Valley, California, expanded to 836 acres and was 0% contained as the Ventura County Fire Department said the winds had shifted 180 degrees.

“The following zones are under an evacuation order: Simi Valley 32 Simi Valley 33 Simi Valley 34 Simi Valley 35 The following zones are under an evacuation warning: Simi Valley 31 TOAKS 6 TOAKS 7 Meantime, a temporary evacuation point will open at 12 p”

ABC7 Los Angeles

CBS News reported the fire was burning near Sandy Avenue and that Cal Fire said the fire was "spreading dangerously fast and threatens structures as well as infrastructure."

ABC7 Los Angeles

ABC7 Los Angeles said the fire began in the Simi Valley area around 4 p.m. Saturday and that a temporary evacuation point would open at 12 p.m. at the Rancho Santa Susana Community Park at 5005 Los Angeles Avenue.

CBS News added that around 10:17 a.m., the Simi Valley Police Department received a report that an individual "hit a rock with a tractor" near the 2600 block of Rudolph Drive, sparking the fire.

By Monday afternoon, CBS News said evacuation orders and warnings remained in place as more than 550 firefighters battled the blaze.

Ventura County Sheriff's Emergency Services issued mandatory evacuations for the SIMI-32, SIMI-32, SIMI-34 and SIMI-35 areas, while evacuation warnings were issued for SIMI-31, TOAK-06 and TOAK-07, according to CBS News.

CBS News quoted Ventura County Fire Department Public Information Officer Andrew Dowd saying, "Having the ability to drop up to a thousand gallons of water per drop, and a quick turnaround time from a lake nearby, has been instrumental."

CBS News

The KTLA report said the Sandy Fire broke out around 10:50 a.m. in the 600 block of Sandy Avenue, exploded to at least 800 acres by 4 p.m., and was 0% contained.

KTLA also quoted Andrew Dowd advising residents to heed evacuation orders and warnings and to "have a plan in advance of a fire so that you know what you’re going to do when you need to evacuate".

KTLA said there were no reports of any injuries at the time it was reporting, while it described residents waiting to pick up children at Hillside Middle School.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library closed its doors Monday due to the Sandy Fire burning in Simi Valley, and ABC7 Los Angeles said the library made the announcement on their website and cited road closures in the area.

“More than 550 firefighters are battling a brush fire dubbed the Sandy Fire, which is burning in Simi Valley and prompted mandatory evacuations on Monday morning”

CBS News

CBS News said the Los Angeles Fire Department deployed some resources to support Ventura County crews, while it reported Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was "closely monitoring" the fire.

KTLA said Simi Valley Unified released a statement saying all students were safe but were being kept indoors due to poor air quality, and it also said Crestview Elementary and Mountain View Elementary schools were evacuated to Simi Valley High School.

NBC Los Angeles reported the fire was near Hillside Middle School, Crestview Elementary School, Mountain View Elementary School and Hollow Hills Elementary School, and it said the fire was estimated late Monday afternoon at more than 800 acres.

Investigators were on the scene near the fire’s reported origin at Sandy Avenue to determine what could have started the fire, KTLA said, after neighbors described a tractor doing brush clearing in windy conditions before the fire broke out.