A fast-moving wildfire known as the Sandy Fire, which began shortly after 10AM on May, 18th, 2026, is burning in and around Simi Valley, prompting evacuation orders and warnings across several Ventura County and Los Angeles County zones. The latest FIRIS update shows the fire perimeter is at an estimated 1698 acres with 5% containment. The fire continues moving east, threatening the communities of Simi Valley, Bell Canyon and Box Canyon. Evacuation Orders and Warnings have been issued for many areas.

Updated 05/19/2026 – 5:29PM

Sandy Fire in Simi Valley: Evacuation Shelters, Animal Assistance & Relief Resources

While fire activity diminished overnight on Monday, fire behavior has increased again today and residents in impacted areas should remain aware of the potential for rapidly changing conditions. If you feel unsafe or are concerned about conditions in your area, do not wait to evacuate.

As of Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 5:27 pm, the fire has NOT impacted the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (aka Rocketdyne) located on Woolsey Canyon Road. Fire crews continue to prioritize protection of the area.

Where To Find Information

Ventura County

Airnow.gov – Interactive air quality map, or signed up for air quality alerts related to wildfire smoke
@nws – Download NWS app for real-time weather alerts
@watchdutyapp – Real-time updates with maps

Los Angeles

For Sandy Fire updates: emergency.venturacounty.gov
LAFD alerts and information: lafd.org/alerts
Sign up for emergency notifications: notifyla.org

Current Evacuation Information

Mandatory evacuation orders are currently in effect for:

Santa Susana 02
Santa Susana 01
Bell Canyon 01
Bell Canyon 02
Bell Canyon 03
Bell Canyon 04
Bell Canyon 05
Cheseboro 01
Burro Flats 01
Meier Canyon 01
Simi Valley 27
Simi Valley 28 – Upgraded to an Order 5:00 pm
Simi Valley 32A
Simi Valley 33
Simi Valley 34
Simi Valley 35

Evacuation warnings have been issued for:

Box Canyon 02
Box Canyon 03

For Los Angeles residents, an Evacuation Warning is in effect for portions of West Hills and Chatsworth. You are not required to leave, but you should be ready to go if conditions change.

Residents are urged to follow all official evacuation notices and monitor local emergency alerts closely.

Road Closures

Bell Canyon Road is closed in both directions from Overland Drive
Katherine Road at railroad tracks
Clear Springs Road from Santa Susana Pass Road to Katherine Road
Oak Knolls Road @ Southern Oaks Avenue
Crinklaw Lane
Santa Susana Pass Road at railroad tracks
Santa Susana Pass Road at Box Canyon Road

School Closures

Parents of Simi Valley Unified School District students were notified this evening that ALL Simi Valley Unified School District schools and campuses will be CLOSED for ALL STUDENTS Tuesday, May 19, 2026 and Wednesday, May 20th, 2026. This includes all after school programs and activities.

Human Evacuation Shelters

Rancho Santa Susana Community Park
5005 Los Angeles Avenue
Simi Valley, CA 93063

Emergency evacuation assistance and shelter services are currently available for residents displaced by the Sandy Fire. Officials have designated this location as the primary evacuation point for impacted families.

Animal Evacuation Shelters

Small Animal Shelters are open at:

Simi Valley Animal Shelter
670 W Los Angeles Avenue
Simi Valley, CA 93065

Camarillo Animal Shelter (Small domestic animals and livestock for safekeeping)
600 Aviation Drive
Camarillo, CA 93010

A Large Animal Shelter for horses and livestock is open at:

Ventura County Fairgrounds
10 E Harbor Blvd.
Ventura, CA 93001

Los Angeles Pierce College – Use DeSoto entrance
6201 Winnetka Avenue
Woodland Hills, CA 91367

Officials recommend evacuating animals early whenever possible.

Additional Animal Assistance Resources

The Humane Society of Ventura County is also offering evacuation transport and emergency animal sheltering support for wildfire evacuees. Assistance requests can be made by calling 805-646-6505.

Assistance and Relief Centers

Residents impacted by the Sandy Fire may find additional support through the following organizations and relief resources:

Available assistance may include:

Emergency housing referrals
Pet boarding assistance
Animal reunification resources
Food and supply distribution
Evacuation transportation assistance
Disaster relief information

Air Quality

Ventura County Public Health Department cautions that unhealthy air quality related to the fire affecting our county may become a concern. Air quality will be variable while there are active fires in the area and shifting winds. Children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and heart disease are most impacted.

To decrease your exposure to wildfire smoke and to limit harmful effects from smoke, follow these healthy habits:

Limit your time outside and stay indoors as much as possible.
If possible, seek shelter in buildings with filtered air OR move to areas outside the region less impacted by wildfire smoke until smoke levels subside.
Keep your windows and doors closed unless it is extremely hot outside.
Run your home or car air conditioner on recycle or recirculate. Keep the fresh air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent bringing additional smoke inside.
If you or your children have asthma or other lung disease, make sure you follow your doctor’s directions about taking your medications and following your asthma management plan. Call your doctor for advice if symptoms worsen or consider leaving the area.
Do not rely on dust masks for protection. Paper or “dust” masks commonly found at hardware stores are designed to trap large particles, such as sawdust. These masks will not protect your lungs from the small particles found in wildfire smoke. To avoid adding additional air pollution, please curtail air polluting activities such as wood burning, lawn mowing, leaf blowing, driving, and barbecuing.
If you are in a fire impacted area and need to be outdoors, N-95 masks can reduce harmful exposure to small particles found in wildfire smoke.
If you smell smoke or see ash falling, it’s best to be inside. People with heart or lung disease are at particular risk from smoke exposure.