350-Acre Lancaster Brush Fire Driven by Winds and Heat

LANCASTER — Wind-driven flames burned about 350 acres of brush Tuesday before fighters began to gain the upper hand late in the evening, authorities said.

No injuries had been reported and no structures were threatened, said Gary Wise, a supervisor with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The fire was reported just before 6 p.m. in a northeast Lancaster field near 50th Street West and Avenue K, according to authorities. The flames were aided by temperature in the 80s and 90s and winds up to 25 mph “had a lot to do with it,” Wise said.

By 8 p.m., about 200 firefighters using two water-dropping helicopters had the flames 80% contained with full containment expected by midnight, authorities said.

The Lancaster blaze was one of three grass fires in the Southland on Tuesday, including one at Griffith Park that charred about 80 acres. Another fire in the Turnbull Canyon area near Whittier and Hacienda Heights burned a few acres on a hillside, authorities said.

No injuries or property damage were reported in either fire.

High temperatures and winds also aided those fires, authorities said.

The forecast again calls for highs in the mid-80s to low 90s for the next few days in the Los Angeles area, said Brian Fortier, a meteorologist with WeatherData, which provides weather information to The Times.

The hot weather will be accompanied by winds up to 20 mph below the passes and canyons, he said.