Simi Valley fire: Wildfire returns to Los Angeles as 1,364 acres scorched

A fast-moving Simi Valley fire has forced officials to widen evacuation warnings across communities along the border of Simi Valley, Ventura County and Los Angeles County, as flames continue to threaten homes and infrastructure in the area.

The blaze, which broke out on Monday morning, has already destroyed at least one home and another structure, underscoring the speed and intensity of the fire’s spread.

In a separate development the same day, another fire was reported in the Angeles National Forest near Burro Peak, prompting additional evacuation warnings for nearby residents. According to the U.S. Forest Service, the Burro fire had burned about 30 acres as of Monday night and was 20 per cent contained, with officials describing its spread as moderate.

Evacuation warnings tied to the Sandy fire in Ventura County extended into parts of the county line communities, including areas near Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Chatsworth, West Hills and Lake Manor. The alert was issued by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Malibu/Lost Hills Station.

Officials urged residents in affected zones to be ready to leave immediately, stressing that those who may need more time to evacuate should do so without delay.

“While the Sandy Fire is in Ventura County, the Los Angeles Fire Department continues to closely monitor the situation and has deployed resources on the ground — including strike teams, a hand crew, and helicopters — to assist local crews in firefighting efforts,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement. “At this time, we do not expect the wildfire to reach the City of Los Angeles.”

Mayor Bass added that the Los Angeles Fire Department has already positioned resources across the San Fernando Valley to respond quickly if conditions worsen.

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Fire officials confirmed that strike teams, bulldozers, hand crews and helicopters have been deployed in support of ongoing containment efforts.

Residents across the San Fernando Valley have also been warned to expect smoke in the air. Jamie Stewart, spokesperson for the fire department, said shifting winds were carrying smoke into Los Angeles.

“Winds are carrying smoke from the Sandy fire into Los Angeles, and air quality may be impacted,” Stewart said in a statement. “If you are sensitive to smoke or have respiratory conditions, stay indoors, keep windows closed, and limit outdoor activity.”

The Sandy fire ignited shortly before 11 a.m. and has been driven by strong winds. By Monday evening, it had burned roughly 1,364 acres and forced mandatory evacuations across large parts of southern Simi Valley, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

More than 28,600 people were under evacuation orders as of early Monday afternoon, according to Ventura County officials.

Evacuation warnings were also extended westward into northern Thousand Oaks as the fire remained uncontained at 0 per cent, with about 500 firefighters deployed to the scene.

The fire has also disrupted education in the region, with at least seven schools in the Simi Valley Unified School District directly impacted after falling within the evacuation zone, according to district officials.

(Los Angeles Times)