Thousands under evacuation orders in southern California as wildfire threatens homes

Over 17,000 people were under evacuation orders in Simi Valley, California, on Tuesday as the wind-driven Sandy fire threatened suburban homes. The fire, which began Monday in the hills above Simi Valley, had consumed over 2 square miles and destroyed at least one home by Tuesday morning. Approximately 750 firefighters, supported by air resources, were battling the blaze, which was 5% contained by midday Tuesday. The cause of the Sandy fire is under investigation. In a separate incident, a wildfire on Santa Rosa Island, believed to have started from flares fired by a shipwrecked sailor, destroyed a cabin and forced the evacuation of National Park Service employees.

Over 17,000 people are under evacuation orders in Simi Valley, California, as the wind-driven Sandy Fire, reported Monday, threatens homes. The blaze has consumed over two square miles of dry brush and destroyed at least one home. Firefighters made progress overnight due to calmer winds, but containment is at zero and the cause is under investigation. In a separate incident, a fire on Santa Rosa Island destroyed a cabin and equipment shed, leading to the evacuation of 11 National Park Service employees.

Satellite images show the scale of two wildfires in southern California, with one, the Sandy Fire, igniting Monday morning in Simi Valley, northwest of Los Angeles. The fire, reportedly sparked by a tractor hitting a rock, had spread across 1,364 acres by Tuesday morning with no containment. Approximately 750 firefighters, supported by night-flying water-dropping helicopters, are working to tackle the uncontrolled blazes. Nasa's wildfire monitoring platform indicates active hotspots moved further south overnight into Tuesday.