Firefighters stop wildfire in Lancaster that destroyed home
Los Angeles County firefighters appear to have gotten a handle on the Max Fire, but not before the fire scorched an estimated 500 acres of brush and burned some structures and cars in Lancaster Sunday.
LANCASTER, Calif. – A vegetation brush fire broke out in the city of Lancaster on Sunday, reigniting concerns among residents about the management of tumbleweeds and other fire hazards in the area.
Scott, a resident of the affected neighborhood who has lived in the community for seven years, expressed frustration with local authorities. “I’ve been fighting with the city of Lancaster, telling them about the tumbleweeds. We’ve been filling the trash cans as much as we can, but the trash cans can only fit so many weeds,” Scott said.
The three-alarm fire was burning near 80th Street West and Avenue K.
The fire, which charred areas within feet of Scott’s home, highlighted the ongoing danger posed by unmanaged vegetation. “A slap in our face,” Scott said. “Because I’ve lived in this community. I’ve lived in Antelope Valley for 45 years. I’m a taxpayer. My property taxes are paid. I pay my trash bill. Nothing. The county came by and talked to us, but the city too. Right. Speak to us.”
Scott described the area behind his home as “No Man’s Land,” plagued by illegal dumping and drug use. “It’s just that there was this drug use and people doing things. The stuff that’s not good. Stuff that’s too close to home,” he said. “Every time with the illegal dumping you do in the middle of the day now and the sheriff doesn’t come in and doesn’t come with me. And my neighbors do is we put it in our own trash cans, which is kind of dirty, too, because you don’t know what’s in the chemicals.”
The recent fire has intensified calls for better vegetation management and safety measures. “They have to maintain this. They have to be doing this,” Scott urged. “We need more action from the city. This could have been prevented.”
On Sunday, firefighters were also battling two other wildfires – one in Hesperia and another near Gorman.
Critical fire weather conditions continue for portions of the Los Angeles and Ventura County mountains Monday through Tuesday, the National Weather Service said.
Elevated fire weather conditions are also expected for the Santa Barbara South Coast through Monday, and across interior areas through Tuesday.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
CNS contributed to this report.