Sandy Fire threatens homes, forces evacuations as fires burn across California

A fast-moving brush fire in Ventura County forced evacuations Monday as gusty winds pushed flames toward Simi Valley neighborhoods, adding to a growing list of early season wildfire activity across California.

The Sandy Fire had grown to 836 acres and remained 0% contained as of Monday afternoon, according to Cal Fire. The blaze began at 10:50 a.m. off Sandy Avenue, south of Simi Valley, and its cause remained under investigation.

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Aerial footage showed at least one home on fire, though fire officials have not released an official count of damaged structures as of midday Monday.

Though the fire was burning hundreds of miles from the Bay Area, it offered a familiar warning for Northern California: Drying vegetation, wind and suburban edges are already combining to create dangerous fire conditions before summer.

Ventura County officials said about 200 firefighters were assigned to the fire, with three air tankers and six helicopters supporting ground crews.

Cal Fire said the blaze was threatening structures and infrastructure as crews mounted an aggressive air and ground attack.

Evacuation orders were issued for parts of Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks, according to Ventura County emergency officials. Residents under an evacuation order were told to leave immediately.

A temporary evacuation point opened at Rancho Santa Susana Community Park in Simi Valley. Small animals were being accepted at the Simi Valley Animal Shelter, and large animals at the Ventura County Fairgrounds in Ventura.

Crestview Elementary and Mountain View Elementary schools were evacuated to Simi Valley High School, county officials said.

The fire broke out during late-season Santa Ana winds in Southern California. The National Weather Service had warned of northeast winds in the Santa Susana Mountains and other Ventura County mountain areas, with gusts up to 40 to 50 mph possible in advisory areas.

The Sandy Fire was one of several active wildfires burning in California on Monday.

A separate fire on Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands National Park had burned more than 10,000 acres by Sunday night, according to authorities.

Cal Fire's statewide incident map listed active fires in Ventura, Los Angeles, Kern, San Joaquin, Siskiyou and Santa Barbara counties, including the 10,029-acre Santa Rosa Island Fire, the 225-acre River Fire in Kern County and the 46-acre Wimer Fire in San Joaquin County.

The agency's seasonal outlook says Northern California is expected to see increasing fuel receptiveness as lower-elevation grasses cure in April and May, with significant fire potential rising above normal from May through July.

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