Firefighters Slow 1,368-Acre Sandy Fire as 33,000 Remain Under Evacuation Orders
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 18
Firefighters Slow 1,368-Acre Sandy Fire as 33,000 Remain Under Evacuation Orders
8 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 18
Cal Fire said crews made significant overnight progress on the Sandy fire, with very little new growth after the blaze reached 1,368 acres in Simi Valley.
Calmer winds, cooler temperatures and higher humidity helped firefighters slow activity, though officials warned winds were expected to strengthen again Tuesday morning.
More than 33,000 people in Simi Valley and nearby Ventura County communities remained under mandatory evacuation orders, with another 10,220 under evacuation warnings.
The fire, which started just before 11 a.m. Monday about 40 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, destroyed one home and continued to threaten thousands more structures.
As another community evacuates, should California rethink its entire approach to building and living in fire-prone landscapes?
As the Sandy fire threatens thousands of homes, is California's wildfire insurance crisis reaching its breaking point?
With fires now burning longer into the night, are traditional firefighting tactics becoming obsolete against these new blazes?