**Top 5 Things You Need to Know About the Simi Valley Fire**
Top 5 Things You Need to Know About the Simi Valley Fire
- Rapid Overnight Spread: The blaze, now dubbed the “South Fire,” erupted just after midnight in the hills near the Santa Susana Field Lab. Fueled by 35 mph Santa Ana winds and dry brush, it exploded from 10 acres to over 1,200 acres in under four hours, catching many residents off guard.
- Rapid Overnight Spread: The blaze, now dubbed the “South Fire,” erupted just after midnight in the hills near the Santa Susana Field Lab. Fueled by 35 mph Santa Ana winds and dry brush, it exploded from 10 acres to over 1,200 acres in under four hours, catching many residents off guard.
- Massive Evacuation Zones: Multiple mandatory orders are in effect for neighborhoods along Kuehner Drive and Santa Susana Pass. A temporary shelter has been set up at the Simi Valley Senior Center, and the 118 Freeway is closed in both directions between Rocky Peak and Tapo Canyon.
- Historic Contamination Concerns: The fire is burning dangerously close to the former Rocketdyne test site, which has known radioactive contamination from past nuclear research. Emergency crews are monitoring air quality for toxic ash particles, though officials say no radiation has been detected.
- Firefighter Footing Nightmare: First responders are battling steep, rugged terrain with zero access for engines in some areas. More than 300 firefighters from Ventura County, LAFD, and Cal Fire are on the ground, but they’re being hampered by strong winds that create spot fires a quarter-mile ahead.
- Water Dropping Helicopter Scramble: The fire is so aggressive that fire officials have grounded fixed-wing aircraft due to turbulence, relying entirely on helicopters drawing from Lake Piru. One resident’s home video shows a chopper almost hitting power lines while making a desperate water drop.