The Sandy Fire team described a handoff between two methods. Infrared-equipped drones searched at night; ground crews then entered rugged terrain in daylight to locate and work remaining heat. At 94% containment the team identified an unsecured section on the south side.
Incident record
| Reported start | 18 May 2026 |
|---|---|
| Location in the incident record | Off Sandy Ave, Simi Valley |
| County listing | Ventura |
| Reported footprint | 2,183 acres |
| Recorded containment | 100% |
| Containment entry | 27 May 2026 |
Night drones and daytime crews in Simi Valley
The aerial survey narrowed the ground search. Its value was in pointing crews toward a location, not in replacing their inspection. The record is unusually useful for understanding the workflow; it supplies neither a sensor detection rate nor a count of fires prevented by the flights.