A stubborn brush fire in Simi Valley has prompted officials to expand evacuation warnings in the communities that straddle the Ventura and Los Angeles county line. The flames burned at least one home and another structure after igniting Monday morning.
Hours later, a fire was reported in the Angeles National Forest near Burro Peak and spurred warnings to some nearby residents to evacuate. U.S. Forest Service officials reported the Burro fire, which was burning at a moderate rate of speed, had burned 30 acres as of Monday night and was 20% contained.
An evacuation warning for the Sandy fire in Ventura County was in effect Monday evening in county-line areas near Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Chatsworth, West Hills and the Lake Manor neighborhood, according to an alert by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Malibu/Lost Hills station.
Officials said residents living in the affected areas or nearby should prepare to evacuate. And if it takes a resident more time to evacuate, they should leave now.
“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.”
The Los Angeles Fire Department has pre-positioned resources in the San Fernando Valley, the mayor said.
Fire Department officials said strike teams, dozers, a hand crew and helicopters had been deployed in support of the incident.
Residents across the San Fernando Valley should expect to see and smell smoke this evening, said Jamie Stewart, spokesperson for the department.
“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 broke out before 11 a.m. and was being driven by strong winds. It had charred some 1,364 acres by Monday evening and triggered mandatory evacuations for a wide swath of homes in 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, said Natalie Hernández, a Ventura County spokesperson.
A Chinook helicopter makes a water drop on the wind-driven Sandy fire in Simi Valley.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Evacuation warnings also stretched west into northern Thousand Oaks. The fire was 0% contained as of Monday evening, and some 500 firefighters were battling the blaze.
The fire has directly affected at least seven Simi Valley Unified School District schools, which are currently within the evacuation zone, said district Supt. Hani Youssef in a post on Facebook.
“More than 28,000 Simi Valley residents are currently under evacuation orders, and officials have not determined when the evacuation orders will be lifted,” Youssef said.
Out of an abundance of caution, all Simi Valley Unified School District schools and campuses will be closed Tuesday for most staff and all students — including after-school programs that are on campus. Only key leadership staff will be contacted to report to work for varied assignments, the superintendent said.
“We will evaluate the status of the Sandy Fire tomorrow afternoon and communicate again with staff and families about Wednesday’s status,” he said.
A temporary evacuation point has been created at Rancho Susana Community Park, and an evacuation shelter has been established at Simi Valley High School. Available locations for animals to get refuge include the Simi Valley Animal Shelter and the Ventura County Fairgrounds.
“So far we’ve seen anywhere between 25 to 35 mph gusts in the valleys, and up to 40 mph on the ridge tops,” said Devin Black, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, of the conditions in Simi Valley. “Through Tuesday, we’re expecting warm and dry conditions.”
The Sandy fire was burning toward the L.A. County line on Monday evening and was affecting air quality.
(Satellite image ©2026 Vantor)
Onshore winds from the southwest and northwest were starting to decrease Monday night, said Bryan Lewis, meteorologist for the National Weather Service’s Oxnard office.
“There’s still some windy spots out there, but in general we’re seeing wind gusts below 15 miles per hour in that area,” Lewis said. “We’re expecting those [winds] will become fairly light overnight.”
That could give firefighters some assistance in suppressing the blaze.
Tuesday morning, however, could bring new challenges as another round of Santa Ana winds from the northeast is slated to blow in between 6 and 8 a.m.
Those winds “could enhance some of that fire growth in the opposite direction,” Lewis said.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday evening that his office had secured a fire management assistance grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to bolster the response to the Sandy fire. Local, state and tribal agencies will be able to apply for 75% reimbursement of their eligible fire suppression costs.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley was closed as a precaution but was not subject to evacuation orders as of Monday afternoon.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said his department had sent resources to aid the firefighting in Simi Valley. He said officials were closely monitoring its proximity to Westlake Village.
Marrone said his crews were also responding Monday to a small fire north of Glendora.
Simi Valley residents watch as the Sandy fire burns the surrounding area.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Times staff writer Grace Toohey contributed to this report.
