Fast-growing southern California brush fire prompts evacuation orders

A fast-growing brush fire ignited on Monday morning in southern California, prompting evacuation orders for thousands of people. damaging at least one home.

The Sandy fire was reported just after 10am in Simi Valley. a city in Ventura county about 30 miles north-west of Los Angeles.

The blaze had spread to more than 800 acres about 3.30pm, pushed by gusts of wind that topped 30mph. The fire had no containment as of Monday afternoon.

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for more than 20,000 residents in the southern part of the city. the New York Times estimated. The city has a population of more than 125,000 people.

Aerial footage from local TV stations showed at least one home on fire. Fire officials did not provide an exact count. Multiple helicopters could be seen performing water drops over the blaze, while mass clouds of gray smoke blanketed the neighborhood.

Crews were scrambling to keep flames from moving down slopes into the suburban neighborhoods of Thousand Oaks.

A National Weather Service advisory warning of winds 20 to 30mph expired at 3pm.

“As the sun sets. those winds will calm down even more,” said Scott Dettorre, a spokesperson for the Ventura county fire department.

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

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

The Associated Press contributed reporting