Fires in Lancaster and North Austin Salvage Yards

A massive fire at a Lancaster recycling center burned nearly 1,000 cars, prompting a shelter-in-place order for the nearby neighborhood due to the thick black smoke. The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to the incident, which began around 3 p.m. at a facility on West Avenue I, quickly escalating to a third alarm as additional firefighting crews were deployed. While the fire did not threaten homes, officials indicated that RVs and outbuildings were also involved in the blaze. As of Friday morning, air quality in Santa Clarita was reported as unhealthy for sensitive groups, with an Air Quality Index of 57. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, and no evacuations were ordered. In North Austin, a fire broke out at a salvage yard, involving multiple vehicles including an 18-wheeler, but was brought under control by the Austin Fire Department.