Blaze Sweeps Across 440 Acres

A brush fire that swept across 440 acres of desert land Monday east of Lancaster is being investigated as a possible arson, according to county fire officials.

Firefighters said numerous smaller fires of questionable origin have occurred in the same area, near the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve over the past two years. An arson investigator was on the scene during the firefighting. No structures were damaged.

Crews were called to the scene about 3:15 p.m. The fire, driven by hot winds and fed by the dry grasses and tumbleweeds, was declared contained at 9 p.m.

About 160 firefighters fought the blaze. Bulldozers were brought in to establish fire breaks and water was dropped from helicopters. The fire was the largest of several reported in remote areas near Lancaster on Monday.