Hi neighbor,

The Sandy Fire is at 2,155 acres and 30% contained as of Wednesday evening. Evacuation orders are still in effect for parts of southern Simi Valley, and air quality may worsen here through Thursday.

On the lighter side: kidSTREAM finally opens at the old library site on Thursday, Clarence the Galápagos tortoise turns 103 on Saturday, and our feature this week looks at the nearly 500 bird species most of us are walking past without noticing.

Also in this issue: ballots are out for the June 2 primary, and Tyrone the red-eared slider is looking for a home.

Let's get into it.

Local forecast via Grant @CamWX

🌫️ May Gray Is Back

Onshore flow finally returns to the region today, which should provide firefighters with some much-needed help in getting a handle on the Sandy Fire south of Simi Valley. Along with cooler temperatures and calmer winds, the marine layer is expected to return as well.

The cooling trend will continue through the holiday weekend, with highs hovering near 70 through Memorial Day before slipping into the upper 60s next week—running a few degrees below normal for late May

More local weather updates → CamWX.com

Ventura County has nearly 500 recorded bird species. Most of us could name five.

This week I talked to Sammy Cowell, a Newbury Park-based birding guide, about how to start noticing the birds already around us: why beginners should skip the feeder and add water instead, which birds to look for first, and why a building in Camarillo holds one of the largest bird egg collections in the world.

Sammy’s pitch for birding is simple: it helps you slow down, pay attention, and feel more connected to the place you live.

It might be the antidote to your phone.

👉 Start noticing the birds around you →

This weekend around Camarillo: kidSTREAM opens its doors at the former library site, classic cars cruise through Old Town, and Clarence the Galápagos tortoise gets a 103rd birthday celebration at the Teaching Zoo.

Thursday · 1pm · kidSTREAM Children’s Museum

Camarillo’s new children’s museum opens at the former library site with hands-on exhibits, indoor and outdoor play spaces, and a makerspace focused on building, creativity, and discovery. General admission is $16, with timed ticketing coming soon.

👉 Learn More and Get Tickets

Friday · 4pm · Old Town Camarillo

Classic and collector cars roll into Old Town Camarillo for the monthly Friday Night Car Cruise, hosted by the Camarillo Merchant Association. Expect vintage cars, local shops, and an easy reason to wander Ventura Boulevard before dinner. Free.

👉 Learn More

Saturday · 11 am · The Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College

Celebrate Clarence the Galápagos tortoise turning 103 with turtle-themed activities, birthday treats for Clarence, and a visit from Franklin the Turtle mascot. Zoo members can buy early entry for 10am, which includes a photo opportunity with Clarence from 10–10:45am. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for kids and seniors.

👉 Get Tickets

The Sandy Fire burning near Simi Valley has grown to 2,115 acres and is 30% contained as of 7 am Thursday morning, according to Ventura County Emergency Information.

Crews are continuing to strengthen containment lines while prioritizing structure protection and patrols in impacted communities. Officials warned the danger isn't over. Shifting winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation could still spike fire activity through Thursday.

Evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect for parts of southern Simi Valley and surrounding communities. Officials are urging residents in impacted areas to stay alert, monitor the county’s live incident map, and not wait to leave if they feel unsafe.

Ventura County also issued an Air Quality Watch for possible unhealthy smoke conditions from the Sandy and Santa Rosa Island fires, with impacted cities potentially including Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, and Simi Valley.

The Camarillo Animal Shelter is open as a small-animal evacuation shelter.

👉 Check the latest evacuation zones and fire updates

And if you have not already done it, this is a good week to revisit your own wildfire plan. Earlier this month, Grant with CamWx put together a practical wildfire preparedness guide for Camarillo residents, including what to pack, how to think through evacuation timing, and the small steps that are much easier to take before smoke is in the air.

👉 Get Grant’s wildfire preparedness checklist

Election Day is Tuesday, June 2. Every active registered voter in Ventura County has been mailed a ballot. You can return it by mail, drop it in a ballot box, or vote in person at a vote center.

Drop boxes in Camarillo:

Camarillo drop boxes are open 24 hours through 8 p.m. on June 2.

In person: Vote centers open countywide on May 23.

👉 Find your nearest one here.

Click here for your sample ballot and the full list of races and candidates.

The shelter has more than cats and dogs.

Tyrone landed at the Camarillo Animal Shelter after being found locally, and she's now up for adoption. Yes, Tyrone is a girl. She's a fitting Pet of the Week for World Turtle Day on Saturday, and a reminder that shelter pets come in all shapes, sizes, and shells.

👉 Adopt Tyrone

Ventura County Animal Services is currently offering $0 adoption fees for all shelter pets, with a special need for adopters for large dogs.

Pets leave the shelter: Spayed/neutered, Vaccinated, Microchipped, Flea treated

A $25 licensing fee applies for county residents.

👉 Get directions to meet Tyrone

Know someone looking for a great pet?

Forward this email and help Tyrone find her home. 🐾

If you made it this far, you’re officially more in-the-know than most of Camarillo.

Know something we should cover? Just hit reply.
Reply to this email or send tips to [email protected]

The Camarillo Caller is a local newsletter created by Camarillo resident Gabrielle Ridgeway.