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County fire chief: Sandy Fire at about 1,385 acres, 5% contained; FMAG approved and mutual aid deployed
Summary
Ventura County fire officials reported the Sandy Fire at roughly 1,385 acres and 5% containment; more than 750 firefighters were assigned, aircraft conducted night drops, an FMAG was submitted and approved, and mutual‑aid and sheltering resources were mobilized.
Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner updated the Board of Supervisors on May 19 about the Sandy Fire, saying it was roughly 1,385 acres and about 5% contained. Gardner described coordinated night drops by heavy helitankers, deployment of more than 750 firefighters and the use of coordinated hand crews and bulldozers to build containment lines.
"The fire is a long ways from being controlled," Gardner said, describing steep, rocky terrain and returning north‑northeast winds and single‑digit relative humidity that will prolong firefighting efforts. He praised mutual‑aid partners—from Los Angeles, Kern and Santa Barbara counties to the City of Los Angeles—and said the county submitted an FMAG that was reviewed by Cal OES and approved by FEMA, which will bring additional suppression resources and reimbursements for local costs.
Gardner described tactical shifts from structure defense to direct line construction in difficult country and urged residents to monitor VC Alert and be prepared to evacuate if ordered. He said crews had pulled a containment box around the incident and were working to build primary, secondary and tertiary lines.
CEO Dr. Johnson and several supervisors thanked firefighters and emergency personnel for their response. Supervisor Parvin, Long and Lavere commented on mutual‑aid coordination and on visible signs of home hardening and defensible space. Gardner said 7,800 homes had been in the fire footprint and that one home was lost; he offered condolences to the homeowners affected.
Board members asked about the investigation into the fire’s origin; Gardner said Cal Fire and county cause investigators are working together and that a cause will be announced only after investigators have a "rock‑solid" case.
The county’s public‑health, public‑works and animal‑services teams have stood up shelters and animal care capacity; staff urged residents to follow official channels for updates and to be ready to move if directed by emergency officials.
