A brush fire named the Lost Fire broke out Wednesday evening in a remote area north of central Simi Valley, sending heavy smoke over the Big Sky neighborhood before crews stopped its forward progress. Officials reported the fire started around 6:15 p.m. near Young Wolf Drive and Swift Fox Court in Big Sky. By 7:20 p.m., acreage reached about 25 as the blaze moved at a moderate speed through brushy hillsides.
Crews from Ventura County and neighboring agencies arrived quickly, mounting a coordinated attack from the ground and the air. Multiple helicopters worked the flanks while engines and hand crews staged near canyon homes as a precaution. By around 8 p.m., radio traffic indicated forward progress had been stopped. Officials said no structures were threatened and no evacuation orders were issued, and overnight operations focused on securing the perimeter, extinguishing hot spots, and watching for flare ups.
Fire in Simi Valley Breaks Out in Remote Big Sky Area 2 What homeowners and renters should do after smoke exposure
For residents, the immediate concerns are smoke exposure, property contamination, and documenting any effects tied to the event. If you smelled smoke indoors or noticed ashfall, make a brief timeline of when conditions changed at your address, then photograph exterior surfaces, window tracks, and HVAC filters before you replace anything. Save receipts for filters, air purifiers, temporary lodging, meals, and pet boarding if you were displaced, and keep copies of any urgent care visits or pharmacy records if you developed coughing, headaches, or eye irritation. These details help insurers evaluate smoke inhalation claims even when flames never reached your street.
Renters should notify their landlords about any interior odor or residue and ask for confirmation that structural and HVAC cleaning will be performed before reentry if the unit was significantly impacted. Homeowners should review policy language covering dwelling repairs, personal property, and additional living expenses, paying attention to limits for code upgrades, landscaping, and smoke remediation. Small business owners should note any reduced hours, canceled bookings, or added payroll for cleanup, since those items can factor into business interruption or extra expense coverage.
Employee options for compensation after wildfire smoke exposure
Workers who were scheduled outdoors during smoky periods may also have protections. If your shift overlapped with poor air quality and you experienced symptoms, preserve your timecards, any written instructions from supervisors, and your medical notes. Those records can be important for workers’ compensation claims. Finally, as the investigation into the Lost Fire’s cause proceeds, residents should avoid speculation and focus on preservation of evidence in their own spaces. Do not discard damaged items without first photographing them, and avoid signing open ended work authorizations with restoration vendors until you have clear scopes and written estimates.
Affected by the recent fire in Simi Valley?
The Simi Valley wildfire left many families and businesses facing smoke damage, health issues, and unexpected costs. If you’re one of them, know that you can ask for help recovering what you’ve lost — cleanup bills, repairs, time away from work. A wildfire lawyer at Bojat Law Group can step in to review your insurance coverage, gather proof of the damage, and push back if you’re being underpaid. Call (818) 877-4878 to talk with us about what happened and learn what options you have.
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