Evacuation Orders Issued After Lancaster Fire

Residents in a Lancaster neighborhood are under a shelter-in-place order following a fire at a nearby scrap yard that ignited Thursday afternoon. Starting around 3:10 p.m., the blaze consumed approximately 1,500 vehicles and sent large plumes of black smoke into the air, raising air quality concerns due to potentially toxic materials burning. Evacuation orders were issued for nearby businesses, while residents were advised to stay indoors for safety. Firefighters reported significant progress in extinguishing the fire by 8:45 p.m., and no injuries have been reported. In a separate incident, a gas leak prompted a shelter-in-place order for a neighborhood in El Paso County, urging residents to secure their homes and avoid contact with doors and windows. Authorities are actively monitoring both situations to ensure community safety.