Brush fire in Simi Valley brings crews on Easter Sunday Firefighters responded to a brush fire in hills above Simi Valley Sunday afternoon, the Easter holiday. The blaze, reported around 3:50 p.m. in open space north of Cottonwood Road, was initially estimated at 2 acres with a moderate rate of spread, according to Ventura County Fire Department reports. By 5 p.m., the fire had grown to about 25 acres. No homes, buildings or other significant structures were threatened, authorities said. The incident, named the Westwood Fire — referring to nearby Westwood Street — had a moderate rate of spread, officials said. The area is near the north edge of city limits, generally east of Tapo Canyon Road.