Sandy Fire: 'Dangerously' Fast-Spreading Blaze Prompts Thousands Of Residential Evacs

SIMI VALLEY, CA — Evacuations are underway near a "dangerously" fast-spreading brush fire that broke out in the hills west of the San Fernando Valley Monday morning.

The Sandy Fire, burning off Sandy Avenue in Simi Valley, broke out at around 10:50 a.m. and was estimated to be about 10 acres shortly after that time, according to Cal Fire.

Within 30 minutes, estimates for the fire had grown to 184 acres.

"The fire is spreading dangerously fast and threatens structures as well as infrastructure. Multiple air and ground resources are enroute and on order," Cal Fire officials wrote at around 11:30 a.m.

By 12:20 p.m., authorities warned that the fire was moving toward specific residential streets in the southeast part of the city. "Evacuate immediately!," Cal Fire warned.

The evacuations impact 23,000 people, the New York Times reported.

By 1:45 p.m., the fire had grown to 720 acres, with 0% containment.

Some 500 firefighters were assigned to the blaze, supported by at least three air tankers and six helicopters conducting aggressive aerial suppression operations in coordination with ground crews, according to Cal Fire.

The fire was burning several structures shortly after it was reported, according to KTLA, which aired aerial footage of the blaze.

At least one home was burned, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

Evacuations have been ordered in numerous areas of Simi Valley, while evacuation orders were in place for parts of Thousand Oaks.

READ MORE: Simi Valley Fire: See Sandy Fire Perimeter, Evacuation Orders

The flames were pushed by morning gusts that topped 30 mph but were subsiding later in the day, said according to fire department spokesperson Scott Dettorre.

“As the sun sets, those winds will calm down even more,” Dettorre said.

The fire was burning in an area south of Simi Valley, west of the San Fernando Valley, and north of Calabasas and Agoura Hills.

The fire broke out in a wilderness area about 4 miles from where the 2018 Woolsey Fire started. It abuts a residential area in the suburban southeast portion of Simi Valley.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, perched on a hillside a few miles away, said it was closed for the day because of the fire.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.