Sandy fire growth stalls overnight, evacuation warnings lifting in Ventura County

"Lighter winds and cooler temperatures allowed firefighters to slow the growth of a fire in Simi Valley that forced tens of thousands of residents out of their homes, firefighting officials said. As crews made progress against the Sandy fire after sunset Monday evening, authorities began to lift evacuation warnings in some areas. Four areas that were under evacuation warnings to the fire's north and west saw those warnings lifted after 9 p.m. Monday, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Emergency Service's website."

""We don't want to get complacent," Andrew Dowd, a spokesperson for the Ventura County Fire Department said. "This is the time to dig in ... for if and when that fire behavior does increase." The Sandy fire in Ventura County began just before 11 a.m. Monday off Sandy Avenue and raced toward nearby homes within minutes, destroying one. It had burned across 1,386 acres as of Tuesday morning and was 0% contained."

"As the smoke and flames spread when the fire broke out, authorities began to issue evacuation warnings ahead of its path on Monday. At one point, some 28,000 people were under an evacuation order, officials said. By Tuesday morning, that number was hovering around 17,000 residents, Dowd said. Still, an evacuation warning in Ventura County was in effect in county-line areas near Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Chatsworth, West Hills and the Lake Manor neighborhood."

"On Monday, the Los Angeles Fire Department pre-positioned resources in the San Fernando Valley just in case the fire grew out of control. "While the Sandy Fire is in Ventura County, the Los Angeles Fire Department continues to closely monitor the situat"

Lighter winds and cooler temperatures helped firefighters slow the Sandy fire in Simi Valley, where tens of thousands of residents had been evacuated. After sunset Monday, crews made progress and authorities began lifting evacuation warnings in some areas. Four neighborhoods under warnings to the fire’s north and west had those warnings removed after 9 p.m. Monday, while other neighborhoods remained threatened and under evacuation orders after sunrise. The fire started just before 11 a.m. Monday near Sandy Avenue and spread rapidly, destroying a home and burning across 1,386 acres by Tuesday morning with 0% containment. Evacuation orders affected about 28,000 people at one point, later dropping to around 17,000 by Tuesday morning. Los Angeles Fire Department resources were pre-positioned in the San Fernando Valley and continued monitoring.

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