Home Brush Fire Near Los Angeles Forces Evacuations

Brush Fire Near Los Angeles Forces Evacuations

May 19, 2026

Brush Fire Near Los Angeles Forces Evacuations

Firefighters walk back to their fire truck as the Sandy Fire continues to burn in the hills of Simi Valley, California on May 18, 2026. A brush fire broke out May 18 in the suburbs of Los Angeles, spreading rapidly and prompting authorities to issue evacuation orders for thousands of residents. Dubbed the Sandy Fire, the blaze broke out late morning in Simi Valley, a city of roughly 125,000 residents about 40 miles (60 kilometers) northwest of downtown Los Angeles. (Photo by Apu GOMES / AFP) / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Apu GOMES has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [May 18] instead of [May 15]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.

A fast-moving brush fire in the Los Angeles suburbs has forced thousands of residents to evacuate after spreading rapidly through parts of Southern California.

The fire, named the Sandy Fire, broke out on Monday morning in Simi Valley, about 40 miles (60 kilometres) northwest of downtown Los Angeles, an area with a population of roughly 125,000 people.

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

Authorities said the fire damaged at least one home, though no injuries or deaths have been reported so far.

Evacuation orders were issued for sections of Simi Valley and nearby Thousand Oaks, while several northern Los Angeles neighbourhoods were placed under evacuation warnings.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said residents under warning were not yet required to leave but should remain alert and be ready to evacuate if conditions worsen.

She added that officials did not expect the wildfire to spread into the city of Los Angeles at this stage.

“Under an Evacuation Warning, residents are not required to leave immediately but are encouraged to be alert and be prepared to evacuate if conditions worsen and an Evacuation Order is issued.

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

CalFire said that despite some weakening winds on Monday evening, conditions remained challenging due to heat, low humidity, and terrain-driven gusts affecting containment efforts.