More than 17,000 evacuated as Sandy Fire burns near Simi Valley — California Fires

More than 17,000 people were under evacuation orders Tuesday as california fires pushed the Sandy Fire through the hills above Simi Valley, about 30 miles north-west of Los Angeles. The blaze had already destroyed at least one home by Tuesday morning.

Andrew Dowd, a Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson, said firefighters worked through calmer winds overnight. “We’ve made a lot of progress against this fire with those improved weather conditions,” he said.

Ventura County evacuation zone

By Tuesday morning, the fire had consumed more than 2 square miles of dry brush after it was reported Monday. Gusts initially topped 30 mph, and about 750 firefighters, helicopters and air tankers were assigned to the blaze.

Evacuation orders and warnings remained in place for several neighborhoods in Simi Valley. By midday Tuesday, the fire was 5% contained, leaving crews with only a small line of control around a fire that was still moving toward suburban homes.

Karen Bass deploys city crews

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the Los Angeles Fire Department had deployed strike teams, a hand crew and helicopters to assist local crews. She said, “At this time, we do not expect the wildfire to reach the City of Los Angeles.”

That leaves residents in the evacuation area focused on the immediate conditions around their neighborhoods: the fire’s edge, the wind and whether the containment line can hold as crews keep working the scene.