The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library saw a sudden burst of activity Monday, but it wasn't for a visiting dignitary, it was for a fast-moving hillside fire.
As smoke began billowing up the slopes, staff and volunteers decided not to wait for an official order.
They triggered a self-evacuation, clearing out the complex as Ventura County Fire crews rushed to the scene.
Air support and ground teams swarmed the five-to-seven-acre blaze, successfully halting its forward progress by mid-afternoon.
While the fire never reached the library walls and no buildings were officially at risk, the facility’s main access road, Presidential Drive, had to be shut down while firefighters battled the flames.
Thankfully, the library escaped unscathed, and the fire was kept under control before it could do real damage.
It’s a sharp reminder of how quickly things can escalate in the Simi hills during the dry season.
Fire investigators are now combing the area to figure out what started the spark.
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Published: Apr 28, 2026. No major post-publication update has been logged.
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