Sandy Fire in Simi Valley: Crews battle blaze for 2nd day; evacuation orders and warnings remain

The Sandy Fire burning in Simi Valley for a second day has grown to 1,698 acres, according to Cal Fire. The blaze is 5% contained.

The Sandy Fire burning in Simi Valley for a second day has grown to 1,698 acres, according to Cal Fire. The blaze is 5% contained.

Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place for thousands of Ventura County and Los Angeles County residents.

Eyewitness News watched as hundreds of firefighters from multiple departments worked to battle the blaze. As of Tuesday morning, officials said there were no structures immediately threatened.

"We have additional resources all around the containment lines of the fire. We have strike teams even around here, in case the weather changes or we have flare-ups," said Rico Standley with Ventura County Fire.

Only one home was lost in the blaze on Monday.

According to its website, the Simi Valley Unified School District has not announced if classes will resume on Monday after schools were closed on Tuesday.

Fire crews continued monitoring hotspots Tuesday morning in Simi Valley - and progress is being made.

Fire crews continued monitoring hotspots Tuesday morning in Simi Valley - and progress is being made.

As the sun rose, Los Angeles County fire crews kept a close watch on smoldering areas beneath the charred remains of a home on Trickling Brook Court.

"The poor guy was standing out in front watching his house burn down," Simi Valley resident Ron Wechsler told Eyewitness News.

"You couldn't stand here like we're standing here," he added. "The wind would blow you right off your feet. By the time we saw the fire, the fire was already on this hillside over here."

More than 750 firefighters from local and state agencies are working to contain the fire, battling it from both the ground and the air.

"We had water-dropping helicopters with night vision capabilities overnight and we will continue to utilize those assets," said Andrew Dowd, a public information officer with Ventura County Fire.

Firefighters took advantage of improved weather conditions to strengthen containment lines and target active areas of the fire. However, officials cautioned that conditions remain unpredictable.

"This is a dynamic fire. We are expecting changes in the weather. We want to be prepared for it," Dowd said.

The fire has destroyed one home in the community, and residents remain on high alert as crews continue working.

Firefighters worked through the night to get control over the Sandy Fire burning in Simi Valley, and it is now 5% contained.

It has burned nearly 1,4000 acres. Crews have made progress against the flames, but sweeping evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect.

More winds are expected across the region Tuesday as the Sandy Fire continues to smolder in the Simi Valley area, keeping elevated fire danger in the mix.

The light Santa Ana winds out of the northeast will stick around for the next few hours, with gusts up to 20 mph possible. They are expected to shift in direction later this afternoon but temperatures will be warming up.

Here's the latest forecast for the area as the firefight continues.

More winds are expected across the region Tuesday as the Sandy Fire continues to smolder in the Simi Valley area, keeping elevated fire danger in the mix.