Alta Fire Erupts in Antelope Valley

Los Angeles County and CAL FIRE crews responded Thursday afternoon to the Alta Fire, a brush fire that broke out west of Lancaster near the Los Angeles-Kern county line. CAL FIRE said the fire was reported near 230th Street West and West Avenue C, east of Neenach, in the Antelope Valley. The agency listed the fire at 335 acres in an initial update Thursday afternoon and said evacuation warnings were in place. By 6:45 p.m. Thursday, CAL FIRE said all evacuation orders had been dropped and the fire remained at 334 acres. ### Where did the Alta Fire start? CAL FIRE said the fire started on Thursday, May 21, near 230th Street West and West Avenue C, east of Neenach, along the border area between Los Angeles and Kern counties. CBS Los Angeles reported the blaze erupted around 1 p.m. in the Lancaster area, just south of the Kern County line. The Antelope Valley has seen multiple brush fires in recent days, including other incidents near Lancaster over the previous weekend. (fire.ca.gov) In the Alta Fire update, CAL FIRE identified the incident as burning in both Kern and Los Angeles counties. ### How large did the fire get on Thursday? CAL FIRE’s first public update at 2:38 p.m. Thursday put the Alta Fire at 335 acres. The agency’s later update at 6:45 p.m. listed the fire at 334 acres, indicating little change in mapped size by early evening. (fire.ca.gov) CBS Los Angeles also reported the fire at 335 acres while crews were working the scene Thursday afternoon. Hometown Station reported that the brush fire was threatening structures north of Santa Clarita as firefighters responded. (fire.ca.gov) ### Which evacuations were in effect? CAL FIRE said evacuation warnings were in place when the fire was first listed Thursday afternoon. (fire.ca.gov) A separate report carried by NewsBreak, citing incident information, listed warning zones in Los Angeles County as LAC-E002, LAC-E006-A, LAC-E006-B, LAC-E006-C and in Kern County as KRN-152. By 6:45 p.m. Thursday, CAL FIRE said all evacuation orders had been dropped. (cbsnews.com) The agency’s incident page did not list any remaining evacuation orders in its latest update available Friday. ### Which agencies were fighting the fire? Los Angeles County fire crews were on the scene Thursday, according to CBS Los Angeles. CAL FIRE also posted the incident on its statewide fire page, identifying it as an active response in Kern and Los Angeles counties. (fire.ca.gov) The City of Lancaster says fire and paramedic service in the city is provided through the Los Angeles County Fire Department. (fire.ca.gov) That places county firefighters at the center of the response in the Lancaster area, alongside CAL FIRE’s incident management and public updates. ### What was the official status by Thursday night? (cbsnews.com) CAL FIRE said Thursday evening that the fire remained at 334 acres and that all evacuation orders had been lifted. The agency’s incident page said the cause was under investigation. As of Friday, May 22, CAL FIRE continued to host the Alta Fire incident page with status reports and mapping for the public. Residents seeking additional updates were being directed to the state incident page, where CAL FIRE posts changes to acreage, containment and evacuation information. (cityoflancasterca.org) (fire.ca.gov)