Three alarms went off Thursday morning, burning at least 1,500 cars, if not more, within a 20-acre junkyard in the Antelope Valley. Just after 3 p.m., L.A. County Fire verified that firefighters were called to 421 W Ave I, off of Sierra Highway in Lancaster in response to complaints of a “yard fire.”
Thick plumes of black smoke could be seen rising from the scene and floating over the neighboring Sierra Highway in footage of the fire that was shared on social media.
An estimated 300 smashed cars were on fire at first, according to fire officials, but as the fire spread, that number kept rising.
3RD ALARM RECYCLING CENTER FIRE | FS33 | 400 W Avenue I #Lancaster | #LACoFD units are on scene of a recycling center fire with approximately 300 crushed vehicles on fire. #GreenIC
— L.A. County Fire Department (@LACoFDPIO) July 25, 2024
In an effort to prevent the fire from spreading to other vehicles, workers at the recycling site assisted fire crews by moving the automobiles using heavy machinery.
The neighborhood north of Avenue I between Division Street and Challenger Way has been placed under a shelter-in-place order by officials with the Lancaster Station of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department. No home evacuation orders have been issued as of 6:30 p.m. As firefighters battled the flames, the Sierra Highway in the vicinity was closed.
Ten acres of salvaged automobiles had burnt so far, according to a fire department report that was released on X, formerly Twitter, shortly before nine o’clock in the evening. The bulletin stated that 180 firemen using specialist equipment had made great headway on the wildfire.
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Around 9:30 p.m., authorities said that the fire had been “knocked down,” and they added that teams would stay overnight to make sure there were no more flare-ups.
There have been no reported injuries. An inquiry is underway to find the fire’s cause.
