Share and Follow
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — A fierce wildfire, driven by strong winds, compelled the evacuation of thousands in suburban areas of Southern California on Monday.
The blaze, known as the Sandy Fire, ignited around 10 a.m. in the hills near Simi Valley, situated approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles.
By the middle of the afternoon, it had ravaged over 500 acres (200 hectares) of parched brushland and caused damage to at least one residence, as reported by the Ventura County Fire Department.
Early gusts, reaching speeds of over 30 mph (48 kph), fueled the fire’s spread, though these winds began to diminish as the day progressed, according to fire department spokesperson Scott Dettorre.
“With the approach of evening, we expect the winds to decrease even further,” Dettorre noted.
Evacuation orders and warnings were issued for several neighborhoods in Simi Valley, a city of more than 125,000 people that was shrouded in smoke as helicopters performed water drops. Dettorre didn’t know exactly how many people were ordered to leave.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, perched on a hillside a few miles away, said it was closed for the day because of the fire.
The cause is under investigation.
Meanwhile, firefighters were battling a 15-square-mile (39-square-km) blaze on Santa Rosa Island, the second-largest of the Channel Islands off the Southern California coast. The fire destroyed a cabin and an equipment shed and forced the evacuation of 11 National Park Service employees.
Santa Rosa, a popular destination for camping and hiking, is home to island foxes, spotted skunks and elephant seals.