Sandy Fire

Fire Start, Size and Growth

Start Date/Time/Location: The Sandy Fire ignited around 10:50 a.m. on Monday, May 18, 2026, off Sandy Avenue in Simi Valley, Ventura County, California.
Size and Containment: As of Tuesday morning, May 26, 2026, the fire has burned 2,183 acres and is 90% contained. Forward progress of the fire has been successfully stopped.
Fuels, Growth and Rate of Spread: Initially starting as a fast-moving brush fire, the Sandy Fire was driven by dry conditions and out-of-season Santa Ana winds. The fire exhibited a rapid rate of spread during its first few days, spotting over roads and quickly growing to over 2,000 acres.
Containment Efforts: Over the last 72 hours, firefighters have made significant progress, increasing containment from 40% late last week to 90% today. Currently, around 147 personnel remain assigned to the incident, down from a peak of over 1,100 firefighters. Crews are utilizing infrared drones during nighttime operations to identify hidden underground hotspots. During the day, hand crews are hiking into rugged, steep terrain to dig out and fully extinguish these heat sources. A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Fire Management Assistance Grant was approved to support the state's response and suppression efforts.

Emergency Information

Evacuations and Sheltering:
Mandatory Evacuation Orders: All evacuation orders have been lifted. At the height of the incident, mandatory orders affected over 28,000 residents across Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
Evacuation Warnings: All evacuation warnings have been lifted.
Evacuation Shelters and Information: Temporary evacuation points and shelters were previously established at Rancho Santa Susana Community Park and Simi Valley High School but are winding down as residents return home. Animal shelters were utilized at the Ventura County Fairgrounds (large animals), Simi Valley Animal Shelter, and Camarillo Animal Shelter.

Road and Infrastructure Closures:

• While major thoroughfares are reopening, several local roads were heavily impacted and closed during the fire, including Bell Canyon Road, Katherine Road, Clear Springs Road, Oak Knolls Road, Crinklaw Lane, and Santa Susana Pass Road.
• Residents and visitors are reminded to use extreme caution in and around the impacted areas, particularly on dirt roads, and to remain alert for emergency vehicles, firefighting personnel, and heavy equipment that continue to operate throughout the area.

For more information, visit:

• Ventura County Emergency Information
• CAL FIRE Incidents
• Los Angeles Fire Department Alerts

Current Impact

Impacts:
Injuries and Fatalities: There have been 0 deaths and 0 non-fatal injuries reported in connection with the Sandy Fire.
Structures Impacted: 1 home/structure was destroyed. At its peak, the fire threatened over 7,400 homes in and around Simi Valley.
School and Business Closures: Simi Valley Unified School District schools were closed for the week of May 18. Crestview Elementary and Mountain View Elementary schools were temporarily evacuated to Simi Valley High School during the fire's rapid spread.
Notable Impacts: The fire encroached uncomfortably close to the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL), a former nuclear reactor and rocket testing site. This raised significant alarm among local residents aware of the site's history; however, officials confirmed the fire did not cross into the Field Laboratory property.

Safety Concerns:
Power Outages: No circuits are presently being monitored for Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) in relation to this fire.
Water Safety: No specific water safety concerns have been reported, but residents should monitor local municipal advisories as they return home.
Burn Bans: Standard seasonal fire restrictions apply in the region. Residents are urged to maintain at least 100 feet of defensible space around their properties.
Air Quality: Due to the fire's proximity to the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, air quality monitoring equipment was proactively deployed around the fire perimeter to establish background readings and assess conditions. Earlier in the incident, smoke heavily impacted the San Fernando Valley, prompting air quality alerts. Residents with respiratory conditions are advised to continue monitoring local air quality.

Ongoing Outlook

Containment Projections: With the fire currently at 90% containment, central command anticipates reaching full containment soon. Firefighters are now heavily focused on mop-up operations and suppression repair efforts to help return the land as closely as possible to pre-fire conditions. Crews will remain in the area over the next several days to patrol for and extinguish any remaining hot spots.
Weather and Wind Warnings: Fire activity has decreased significantly over the last 72 hours due to calmer winds and higher humidities. The weather forecast for the Simi Valley area over the coming days indicates favorable conditions for firefighters: cooler temperatures in the 50s and 60s, high humidity (70%+), and slight chances of light rain.

Cause and the Role of Weather and Climate

Cause: The official cause of the Sandy Fire remains under investigation, though early reports indicate it is suspected to have been sparked by a collision between a tractor and a rock, which ignited the dry ground cover.
Weather and Climate: The rapid initial spread of the fire was fueled by highly combustible dry vegetation and out-of-season Santa Ana winds. The recent shift in weather patterns—bringing calmer winds and increased marine layer moisture—played a critical role in halting the fire's forward progress and allowing crews to establish strong containment lines over the holiday weekend.

For more information, visit:

• Ventura County Emergency Information
• CAL FIRE Incidents
• AirNow Fire and Smoke Map