Massive brush fire near Los Angeles forces thousands to evacuate

May 19, 2026 / 9:53 AM

Sharjah24 - AFP: Thousands of residents in the suburbs of Los Angeles were evacuated after a brush fire broke out on Monday , spreading rapidly and prompting authorities to issue orders for evacuation .

Named the Sandy Fire, the blaze broke out late Monday morning in Simi Valley, a city of around 125,000 residents about 40 miles (60 kilometers) northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

Wildfire spreads across Southern California

Fueled by winds reaching up to 35 mph (56 km/h), the wildfire expanded to 1,364 acres (552 hectares) by Monday evening, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire).

Evacuations and safety measures

The blaze destroyed one home, though no injuries or fatalities have been reported so far.

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for parts of Simi Valley and the nearby city of Thousand Oaks, while several neighborhoods in northern Los Angeles remained under evacuation warnings.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stated during a press conference that residents under evacuation warnings were advised to stay alert and prepare to leave if conditions worsen and official evacuation orders are issued.

She added that authorities currently do not expect the wildfire to spread into the City of Los Angeles.

Firefighters face challenging conditions

Although wind speeds eased later on Monday, CalFire said warm temperatures, low afternoon humidity, and terrain-driven winds continue to complicate containment efforts.