Cottonwood Fire Grows To 20+ Acres Near Simi Valley

SIMI VALLEY, CA — Firefighters have stopped forward progress on a brush fire that broke out in Simi Valley after it had grown to over 20 acres Friday afternoon.

The Ventura County Fire Department responded to reports of a five-acre brush fire "burning uphill with a moderate rate of spread in light fuels" near Yosemite Avenue and Cottonwood Drive at around 12:45 p.m., according to the department.

"Currently, 30 apparatus and 79 firefighters are en route to the incident. Ventura County firehawks, heavy helitakers and fixed-wing air tankers are also enoute to the incident," a department spokesperson wrote at around 1 p.m.

The blaze, dubbed the Cottonwood Fire, broke out in the Las Llajas Canyon area in the northeast corner of Simi Valley — an area where the rural Santa Susana Mountains meets the city's suburban development.

Within an hour, the fire had grown to 20 acres and was being battled by 100 firefighters, according to the Fire Department.

"Crews are making good progress, and there are currently no threats to structures," a department spokesperson wrote at around 1:40 p.m.

#CottonwoodIncident — Forward progress stopped. VCFD firefighters are making good progress on the brush fire burning north of Cottonwood Drive in Simi Valley. Fixed-wing aircraft are dropping retardant, and helicopters are conducting precise water drops. On the ground,… pic.twitter.com/9RjhoRrZ0x
— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) September 5, 2025

By 2:20 p.m., authorities reported forward progress on the fire had stopped after it had grown to between 20 and 25 acres.

"Fixed-wing aircraft are dropping retardant, and helicopters are conducting precise water drops. On the ground, firefighters supported by bulldozers are strengthening containment lines," the department wrote.

No structures were threatened.

Road closures were in effect at Yosemite Avenue and Evening Sky Drive as well as at Westwood Street and Cottonwood Drive, the Simi Valley Police Department reported at around 1:30 p.m.