Firefighters made significant progress in combating the Sandy Fire, increasing containment of the fire to 30% as of Thursday morning, according to data from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

In an update posted at 10:11 a.m., Cal Fire officials reported that the flames had spread across 2,115 acres, with firefighters' efforts concentrated in the Runkle Canyon area.

Nearly 44,000 residents of Ventura and Los Angeles counties remain under evacuation orders following the spread of the fire, which broke out around 10:50 a.m. on Monday, May 18, in the 600 block of Sandy Street, near Sycamore Park, in Simi Valley.