The wind-driven Sandy Fire was reported Monday in the hills above Simi Valley, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles, according to the Ventura County Fire Department. By Tuesday morning, the blaze had consumed more than two square miles (five square kilometers) of dry brush and destroyed at least one home.
MSI previously reported that evacuation orders grew to top 17,000 as the fire spread rapidly through the area amid dry and windy conditions.
More than 17,000 people were under evacuation orders by Tuesday morning as the fire threatened suburban homes in the region. The Ventura County Fire Department did not immediately report any injuries or provide a timeline for when residents might be allowed to return.
The fire was burning in a region that has been under prolonged drought conditions, leaving large amounts of dry brush and grass as fuel for wildfires. The Santa Ana winds that typically arrive in Southern California during the spring and fall months have been a driving factor behind the rapid spread of the Sandy Fire.
Authorities have not said what caused the fire. Investigators from the Ventura County Fire Department were working to determine the origin.