The Sandy Fire, now the third-largest active wildfire in California, began Monday morning near Sandy Avenue and has since burned more than 2,000 acres along southern Simi Valley, creating evacuation orders for nearly 44,000 residents. According to Cal Fire, the blaze was 40 percent contained as of Friday afternoon. Officials say at least one structure has been destroyed in the incident.
Just west of the Sandy Fire, the far larger Santa Rosa fire has scorched around a third of the island. Firefighting departments continue to work across Southern California as dry conditions and shifting winds fuel both. Authorities have not yet announced the cause of the blaze, and no fatalities have been reported.
Bell Canyon native and CHS Senior Natalie Tabatabai recalls the sudden shift she felt when she first learned she had to evacuate, during prom weekend.
“The contrast between that [weekend] and going home was harsh. I was immediately met with an emergency alert saying we had to evacuate.”
The evacuation process became increasingly uncertain as her family was repeatedly told to leave and return. The four evacuation orders and three evacuation warnings issued stretch across Simi Valley and border neighboring cities.
“We evacuated to Orange County, and I was there for about a day or two. After that, we came back, and they told us we had to leave again. However, we stayed at our own risk.”
Like many residents living in evacuation zones, Tabatabai said the possibility of losing her home created constant stress and uncertainty.
“I get a lot of anxiety thinking that my house is going to burn down. I’ve never moved, and my family built this house.”
The ongoing police presence and repeated evacuation restrictions only added another layer of stress.
“It was really hard to get in and out of the gate. There were police going up and down my street every day with their sirens on.”
As evacuation zones gradually begin to ease, firefighters continue strengthening containment lines and monitoring hot spots throughout the area. Over 1,000 personnel remain assigned to the situation as crews work to prevent flare-ups.
