The Sandy Fire in Simi Valley, northwest of Los Angeles, has burned more than 800 acres in California over the past few hours, burning several structures and putting more than 28,000 people under mandatory evacuation orders by Monday afternoon. More than 8,000 additional residents are under evacuation warnings because of the fast-growing blaze. Driven quickly by dry conditions and strong winds, the fire is close to several local schools. CAL FIRE reported that more than 550 firefighters are responding to the scene. Simi Valley, the city most urgently under threat, is about 40 miles from Los Angeles, where devastating wildfires ripped across several communities last year and caused an estimated 440 deaths. Direct Relief, which maintains its headquarters about 50 miles north of the fires, is monitoring the Sandy Fire and has reached out to local partners in Ventura County, California, to offer assistance.…