An fire in the outskirts of Los Angeles prompted authorities to issue evacuation orders for about 29,000 people on Monday, May 18, without causing major damage or casualties so far.
The “Sandy Fire” broke out on Monday morning near Simi Valley, a suburban town in Ventura County, located about 60 kilometers northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Fueled by strong winds, with gusts up to 55 km/h, the flames quickly spread through the hills of the region, creating thick columns of smoke darkening the sky.
By Monday evening, they had scorched a little over 5.5 square kilometers, according to the firefighting agency CalFire. One house was destroyed, but no casualties have been reported yet. About 500 firefighters were deployed to battle the flames. They are assisted by several planes and helicopters, which are dropping water and fire retardants on the area.
An investigation has been opened to determine the cause of this fire, which comes after an unusually warm winter that dried up the local vegetation. In March, a heatwave set temperature records for this season in several locations in southern California.
“Staying vigilant”
By Monday evening, the fire was still not contained, and some areas in the northern part of Los Angeles County were put on alert. Firefighters urged residents to remain vigilant and heed evacuation orders when issued, in a region still traumatized by the Los Angeles fires in January 2025, which claimed 31 lives.
“At this time, we do not expect the fire to reach the city of Los Angeles,” explained Democratic mayor Karen Bass in a statement, while emphasizing that the city’s firefighters are closely monitoring the situation.
Residents in the alert zones “are not required to leave immediately, but are encouraged to stay vigilant and prepare to evacuate if the situation worsens and an evacuation order is given,” she reminded.
“High temperatures, low humidity in the afternoon, and winds tied to the terrain continue to complicate confinement operations, pushing fire activity southeast,” warned CalFire in its latest bulletin. “Downslope winds are expected to keep the fire active along the southeast edge into the evening,” it added.
