More than 17,000 people in Southern California were placed under evacuation orders as the wind-driven Sandy Fire spread across hills above Simi Valley, Ventura County officials said. The blaze, reported Monday, has burned over two square miles, destroyed at least one home and remains at zero containment, though calmer winds helped firefighters gain progress overnight.

Simi Valley: More than 17,000 people were under evacuation orders in Southern California on Tuesday as a wildfire threatened suburban homes.

The wind-driven Sandy Fire was reported Monday in the hills above Simi Valley, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles.

By Tuesday morning, it had consumed more than two square miles (five square kilometers) of dry brush and destroyed at least one home, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

The flames were initially pushed by gusts that topped 30 mph (48 kph), but firefighters were aided by calmer winds overnight, said department spokesperson Andrew Dowd.