Sandy Fire in Simi Valley: Thousands remain under evac orders as blaze now 22% contained
Last updated: Thursday, May 21, 2026 6:38AM GMT
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (KABC) -- The Sandy Fire continues to burn in Simi Valley, which has scorched more than 2,100 acres and destroyed at least one home.
More than 17,000 people are under evacuation orders. The fire is 22% contained, and the cause is under investigation.
The wind-driven Sandy Fire erupted on Monday in the hills above Simi Valley, about 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
The following zones are under an evacuation order:
BELL-01
BELL-02
BELL-03
BELL-04
BELL-05
BURR-01
CHES-01
MEIC-01
SASU-01
SASHU-02
Simi Valley 27
Simi Valley 28
Simi Valley 32a
Simi Valley 33
Simi Valley 34
Simi Valley 35
The following zones are under an evacuation warning:
AGO-C304
BOXC-02
BOXC-03
CAL-C401
CSB-U024
HID-C501
LAC-LAKEMANOR
LAC-WOODLSEY
LFD-0295
LFD-0343
LFD-0405
LFD-0469
LFD-0471
MTV-U048
Simi Valley 32c
Simi Valley 33b
WTH-U045
Meanwhile, a temporary evacuation point is open at the Rancho Santa Susana Community Park, located at 5005 Los Angeles Avenue. A large animal shelter is open at Ventura County Fairgrounds, located at 10 E Harbor Blvd.
A small animal shelter is open at the Simi Valley Animal Shelter, located at 670 W Los Angeles Ave.
Smoke advisory extended through Thursday night due to fires
With multiple wildfires burning in Southern California, the South Coast Air Quality Management District has extended a smoke advisory until 10 p.m. Thursday.
"It's not always possible to see or smell smoke," said Scott Epstein with the South Coast Air Quality Management District. "Also, there are pollutants that we worry about in Southern California that you can't smell like ozone or smog pollution."
Experts advise to stay indoors and limit exposure if possible, especially for those in the sensitive group.
"If you are in an area with poor air quality you want to minimize the amount of pollution that you breathe in, so the best way to do that is to avoid outdoor strenuous activity where you breathe in a lot more air," Epstein said.
With multiple wildfires burning, the South Coast Air Quality Management District has extended a smoke advisory until 10 p.m. Thursday.
2:04 AM GMT
Sandy Fire grows to more than 2,100 acres, containment at 22%
The Sandy Fire has grown in size again, but containment has also gone up.
Cal Fire says the fire is now 2,115 acres in size, while containment has reached 22%.
May 20, 2026, 10:56 PM GMT
All Simi Valley USD schools to remain closed all week as Sandy Fire forces thousands into evacuation
All Simi Valley Unified School District schools will be closed for the remainder of the week due to the Sandy Fire, the school district announced Wednesday on its website.
The closures also extend to all after-school programs on campus.
The district expects schools to reopen Tuesday. All schools were already scheduled to be closed Monday in observance of Memorial Day.
The Sandy Fire is 15% contained and has scorched nearly 1,700 acres. Thousands of residents remain under evacuation orders and warnings.
Air quality concerns rise as smoke from several SoCal wildfires spreads
Multiple wildfires burning across Southern California are impacting air quality and spreading smoke and ash across several communities, prompting health warnings from officials.
The Sandy Fire in Ventura County entered its third day on Wednesday as shifting winds and rising temperatures were reported in Glendale, Pasadena, Monrovia and as far as Chino Hills.
Residents reported the air "smelled like an ashtray," though experts caution that smell alone is not a reliable indicator of air quality.
Fires in Riverside County - the Bain and Verona fires - as well as the Santa Rosa Island Fire in Santa Barbara County are also contributing to pollution levels across the region.
Multiple wildfires burning across Southern California are impacting air quality and spreading smoke and ash across several communities, prompting health warnings from officials.
