SIMI VALLEY, Calif. — More than 17,000 people were under evacuation orders in Southern California on Tuesday as a wildfire threatened suburban neighborhoods in and around Simi Valley, officials said. The Sandy Fire was reported Monday just after 10 a.m. in the hills above the Ventura County city, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.
By Tuesday morning, the fire had consumed more than two square miles (five square kilometers) of dry brush and destroyed at least one home, the department said. Residents in the southern part of Simi Valley were among those ordered to evacuate as the fire moved through the area, with smoke hanging over the city as aircraft made water drops.
The fire’s spread was initially driven by wind, fire officials said, with gusts that topped 30 mph (48 kph). The Ventura County Fire Department said crews later saw improved conditions overnight, and spokesperson Andrew Dowd said the department had made progress against the blaze as winds eased.
Dowd said crews hoped to keep making progress before winds increased again. He also reported that the fire was 5% contained, adding that the cause was under investigation.
Evacuation orders and warnings remained in place for several neighborhoods in Simi Valley as firefighters continued to respond, the department said. Aircraft continued to drop water while officials worked to slow the fire’s advance toward homes, with the city described as shrouded in smoke.
Meanwhile, firefighters were also battling a separate wildfire on Santa Rosa Island, off Southern California’s coast. Officials said that blaze, reported as 23 square miles (59 square kilometers), destroyed a cabin and an equipment shed and forced the evacuation of 11 National Park Service employees, and that there was no containment as of Tuesday morning.
Santa Rosa Island is a popular destination for camping and hiking, and officials said it is home to island foxes, spotted skunks and elephant seals.