Firefighters responded Thursday afternoon to a brush fire in northern Los Angeles County. The fire was reported east of the 5 Freeway in the Neenach area, about 45 miles north of Santa Clarita. The fire was at 30 acres early Thursday afternoon.

Tens of thousands have been told to leave their homes as the Sandy wildfire burns over 1,698 acres of land. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) issued an “immediate threat to life” order as the Sandy wildfire nears Los Angeles.

More than 7,000 people east of the city had been forced to evacuate as of Wednesday morning, and more than 39,000 others faced evacuation orders or warnings.

Evacuations were ordered due to a wind-driven brush fire Monday in Simi Valley. The fire was reported in the area of Sandy Drive, where a thick smoke cloud was rising from the canyon area. Flames were threatening buildings in the area.

The Los Angeles County Registrar's office says residents don't need to change their voter registration; they can continue to use their permanent residential address and can add a temporary mailing address instead.

An examination of the disaster commissioned by the county concluded that its efforts were muddled and chaotic, but said that it had not discriminated against Black residents.