Wildfire Near Simi Valley Prompts Evacuations for Thousands in Southern California

More than 17,000 people were under evacuation orders in southern California on Tuesday as a wildfire threatened suburban homes near Simi Valley. The Sandy Fire was reported around 10 a.m. Monday in the hills above Simi Valley, about 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles. By Tuesday morning the blaze had burned more than 2 square miles of dry brush and destroyed at least one home.

Firefighters were aided by calmer winds overnight after gusts topped 30 mph on Monday. A department spokesperson said crews had made significant progress and hoped to advance further before winds increased again. About 750 firefighters, helicopters and air tankers were assigned to the fire by Tuesday.

The blaze was 5 percent contained by midday Tuesday, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

Firefighters were also battling a 23-square-mile fire on Santa Rosa Island off the southern California coast. The blaze destroyed a cabin and an equipment shed and forced the evacuation of 11 National Park Service employees. The Santa Rosa fire appeared to start after a shipwrecked sailor fired at least two flares to signal passing boats.

The sailor was rescued without injury, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The cause of the Simi Valley fire remains under investigation. Evacuation orders and warnings stayed in place for several neighborhoods in Simi Valley, a city of more than 125,000 people.

Los Angeles officials said they were monitoring the situation and had deployed strike teams, a hand crew and helicopters to assist Ventura County crews. Officials said they did not expect the wildfire to reach the City of Los Angeles.