meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Headlines From The Times

Thousands Evacuate as Sandy Fire Spreads Across Simi Valley, Ebola Virus Outbreak, and NBA Conference Finals Primer

Headlines From The Times

L.A. Times Studios

News, Daily News, Society & Culture, The Times, California

4.1544 Ratings

🗓️ 20 May 2026

⏱️ 5 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Thousands of families in Southern California's Simi Valley fled their homes on Monday, as crews raced to contain the fast-burning Sandy Fire, which has already scorched more than 1,300 acres, with strong Santa Ana winds threatening to make the fires worse Also, the World Health Organization says it is deeply concerned about a rapidly spreading Ebola virus outbreak, with over 500 suspected cases and more than 130 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. And in the first game of the NBA Western Conference Finals, the San Antonio Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in a double-overtime battle. Meanwhile, another battle is taking shape as the New York Knicks gear up to host the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night. Read more at https://www.latimes.com/

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This is an LA Times Studios podcast.

0:09.6

Thousands of families in Southern California's Seamy Valley fled their homes on Monday as crews raced to contain the fast-burning sandy fire.

0:18.6

The blaze has already scorched more than 1,300 acres, and the strong Santa Ana winds

0:24.0

threatened to make the fires worse. Officials are expanding evacuation warnings, telling communities

0:30.0

along the Ventura County line, like Agora Hills, Calabasas, and Thousand Oaks, to stay on high alert.

0:36.9

Students in the Simi Valley Unified School District

0:39.5

were also out of class on Tuesday after administrators shuttered seven campuses that fell within the

0:45.7

evacuation zone. According to Mayor Karen Bass, firefighters don't expect the flames to reach Los Angeles.

0:52.7

But across the San Fernando Valley, a smell

0:55.6

and sight of smoke raised concerns, including over poor air quality. A spokesperson for the Los

1:02.0

Angeles Fire Department says in a statement that residents with respiratory conditions should

1:07.0

stay indoors and keep their windows closed. Also, the World Health Organization says it is deeply concerned about a rapidly spreading Ebola virus outbreak.

1:17.6

According to the Who, there's been over 500 suspected cases in more than 130 deaths

1:23.6

in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

1:26.6

Dr. Celine Gounder is an infectious disease specialist who worked in West Africa during the 2014

1:32.6

Ebola epidemic.

1:34.2

She says this outbreak could become a larger regional epidemic.

1:38.4

I am not worried about a pandemic with Bundybujo Ebola virus, but I am worried about a large regional epidemic.

1:49.2

And that could result in some cases here in the United States and elsewhere.

1:55.3

Because of the high infection rate of the virus, the U.S. State Department is recommending

1:59.2

Americans not visit the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda the U.S. State Department is recommending Americans not visit the Democratic Republic

2:02.1

of Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan. Ebola can be spread from person to person through bodily fluids

...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 11 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from L.A. Times Studios, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of L.A. Times Studios and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.