A wind-driven blaze erupted near Sycamore Park in the 600 block of Sandy Avenue, and the simi valley fire was first reported around 10:30 a.m., as reported by the Ventura County Fire Department.
Tankers and mutual aid were requested and roughly 200 fire personnel were estimated at the scene, the department said, as crews battled gusty conditions and advancing flames.
The fire had damaged at least one property and had spread to about 720 acres with no containment as of 1:50 p.m., according to the Ventura County Fire Department.
Evacuations And Local Response
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for Simi Valley Zones 32 through 35, while evacuation warnings covered Simi Valley Zone 31 and Toaks 6 and 7, officials said.
A temporary evacuation center opened at Rancho Santa Susana Community Park, large animals were directed to the Ventura County Fairgrounds and small animals could go to the Simi Valley Animal Shelter.
Images from air and ground units showed residents using garden hoses to protect homes, and Agoura Hills officials said they were monitoring the situation with no immediate threat to their community.
Officials noted crews across Southern California remained on alert because of dry conditions, high winds and low humidity levels, and two Antelope Valley wildfires over the weekend were fully contained, the report said.
