Evacuations ordered due to fire in Simi Valley

Lina Portman3 days ago

0 1 minute read

The 75-acre fire was raging near homes and a hospital Wednesday afternoon.

July 3, 2024 4:57 PM PDT | Update July 3, 2024 5:04 PM PDT

SIMI VALLEY, CA — Simi Valley residents were ordered to evacuate Wednesday afternoon as two brush fires broke out in extreme heat and quickly spread, threatening nearby homes.

Firefighters are battling the Sharp Fire in the Sharp Road area near Ditch Road. By early afternoon, it had burned 75 acres. The second-alarm fire is burning near an area hospital and several homes. One firefighter was hospitalized with a heat-related injury sustained while battling the blaze.

“Homes along Ditch Road are currently under evacuation orders,” the Ventura County Fire Department said. A temporary evacuation point is available at the Rancho Santa Susana Community Center in Simi Valley.”

Homes east of Erringer Road and south of Lost Canyon Drive were under evacuation alert as of 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Click here for up-to-date evacuation orders and warnings.

About 200 firefighters are on scene and several planes and helicopters are attacking the blaze from the air, according to the fire department.

“Firefighters are using hoses to attack the fire on multiple fronts,” VCFD reported on X.

Firefighters also battled a second blaze called the Sequoia Fire near Sequoia and Aspen streets. That fire burned one acre without a threat to buildings as of 4 p.m. Wednesday.