Sandy Fire Slows, But Threatens Santa Susana Hazmat Site Play

Cooler moisture brought in by the marine layer has helped firefighters battling the Sandy Fire, still burning on the southern side of Simi Valley.

The Sandy Fire has burned 1,700 acres as of last night. But most of that burned two days ago — the fire increased in size by only about 300 acres yesterday.

The smoke plume is easily visible from the northern parts of the mountains above Malibu.

Yesterday there were rumors in Agoura Hills that backfires had been started just north of the 101 Freeway, but those turned out to be unfounded.

Ventura County firefighters did evacuate some additional subdivisions in Simi Valley, about 2 miles east of the regular library, last night. But structure protection has saved all but the one house that burned Monday when the fire broke out.

Today, crews will be working to keep the fire from spreading to the east, into the Santa Susana Field Laboratory. That area is of special concern because of old unspent rocket fuel on the ground where NASA and private contractors tested rocket engines during the Apollo program and before.

There's also radioactive residue on the ground from a botched federal atomic energy program back in 1959. During the Woolsey Fire, which burned through the Santa Susana Field Lab, radioactive waste was launched into the air, as well as other bad chemicals.

This morning, firefighters are in protective positions at the hazmat site. Also near Santa Susana Pass, in Box Canyon, in Woolsey Canyon and Bell Canyon, near Chatsworth.

Advisory evacuation warnings remain up for the northern parts of Westlake Village, Agoura Hills and Calabasas. The westernmost edge of the San Fernando Valley, from Bell Canyon to the 118 Freeway, has also been placed on alert.

But the fire has not significantly spread towards the 101 or the San Fernando Valley.

The first indications are that a tractor being used for brush clearance hit a rock and caused a spark, which was fanned by gusty Santa Ana winds into a brushfire.