Pepperdine monitors Sandy wildfire near Simi Valley as evacuations expand

Pepperdine University said it was monitoring the Sandy Fire near Simi Valley as the wildfire continued to spread and evacuation zones expanded across Ventura County.

The university directed people to Ventura County emergency updates as officials worked to track the fast-moving blaze.

AP reported on May 18 that the fire had started in the hills above Simi Valley and had already triggered evacuation orders and warnings. Later Ventura County and CAL FIRE updates described the fire as fast-moving and tied to mandatory evacuation orders.

The official Pepperdine emergency notice, posted on May 18, said the university was monitoring the fire and cited an early estimate of about 180 acres. Later reporting said the blaze had grown well beyond that initial size and had damaged at least one structure.

The latest updates also said the number of evacuees had expanded sharply as the fire developed.

Officials have not said the situation is stable. Open questions include the final acreage, containment, and whether additional evacuation zones will be added or lifted as conditions change.