More than 17,000 under evacuation orders as Southern California wildfire threatens homes
>More than 17,000 people were under evacuation orders in Southern California on Tuesday as a wildfire threatened suburban homes.
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>The wind-driven Sandy Fire was reported Monday in the hills above Simi Valley, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles.
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>By Tuesday morning, it had consumed more than two square miles (five square kilometers) of dry brush and destroyed at least one home, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.
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>The flames were initially pushed by gusts that topped 30 mph (48 kph), but firefighters were aided by calmer winds overnight, said department spokesperson Andrew Dowd.
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>“We’ve made a lot of progress against this fire with those improved weather conditions,” Dowd said. Crews hoped to make further progress before winds increased again, he said.
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>There was zero containment. The cause is under investigation.
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>Evacuation orders and warnings were still in place for several neighborhoods in Simi Valley, a city of more than 125,000 people.
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>The wind-driven Sandy Fire was reported Monday in the hills above Simi Valley, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles.
>
>By Tuesday morning, it had consumed more than two square miles (five square kilometers) of dry brush and destroyed at least one home, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.
>
>The flames were initially pushed by gusts that topped 30 mph (48 kph), but firefighters were aided by calmer winds overnight, said department spokesperson Andrew Dowd.
>
>“We’ve made a lot of progress against this fire with those improved weather conditions,” Dowd said. Crews hoped to make further progress before winds increased again, he said.
>
>There was zero containment. The cause is under investigation.
>
>Evacuation orders and warnings were still in place for several neighborhoods in Simi Valley, a city of more than 125,000 people.