Sandy Fire forces evacuations and school closures in Ventura County, California

The Sandy Fire was discovered at around 10:50 LT on May 18 and has since burned over 526 ha (1 300 acres) across Simi Valley.

More than 10 000 homes were placed under evacuation orders, while an additional 3 500 were placed under evacuation warnings. Ventura County Sheriff Emergency Services issued mandatory evacuation orders for parts of Simi Valley, along with evacuation warnings for the city of Thousand Oaks, due to the rapid spread of the wildfire.

Residential neighborhoods and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library were evacuated. More than a dozen people work at the facility, which contains an enormous amount of historical material and presidential archives. At least one home was destroyed near Trickling Brook Court.

All Simi Valley Unified School District schools will be closed to students on May 19 due to the fire, the district said. The closure includes after-school programs and activities.

California has secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for relief efforts in Ventura County.

“California is mobilizing resources to support Ventura County communities threatened by the Sandy Fire. This activation will ensure responders have the support needed to continue protecting lives and homes as dangerous fire conditions persist. We are deeply grateful to the crews on the front lines and urge Californians in impacted areas to follow guidance from local officials,” Governor Gavin Newsom said.

“Cal OES remains committed to ensuring Ventura County has the resources needed to protect lives, property, and critical infrastructure as firefighters continue to battle the Sandy Fire,” said Caroline Thomas Jacobs, Director of Cal OES. “We are grateful to the firefighters and first responders working to help keep their communities safe.”

Residents in the San Fernando Valley saw smoke on the night of May 18 as crews continued to battle the Sandy Fire burning in Simi Valley.

While the fire is burning in Ventura County, evacuation warnings have been issued for portions of West Hills and Chatsworth as winds drive the flames and smoke toward the valley.

“At this time, we do not expect the wildfire to reach the City of Los Angeles,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said.

Due to calmer winds and higher humidity, fire activity decreased significantly during the evening of May 18. Around 750 firefighters, along with water-dropping helicopters, are engaged in suppression efforts.

References:

¹ California secures federal assistance to support response to Sandy Fire in Ventura County – Governor Gavin Newsom – May 18, 2026

² Sandy Fire Incident Update – Cal Fire – May 18, 2026

Rishav Kothari

I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.

• Rishav Kothari

  Flash flooding prompts emergency declarations and evacuations in western Manitoba, Canada
• Rishav Kothari

  Multiple tornadoes hit Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Canada
• Rishav Kothari

  Shallow M6.0 earthquake hits Auckland Islands, New Zealand region
• Rishav Kothari

  Heat Advisories in effect across central U.S., heat index values up to 42°C (108°F) forecast