Cause determined for Lancaster salvage yard fire

Los Angeles County firefighters will be back at an auto salvage yard in Lancaster on Friday, damping out the smoldering remains of a fire that burned up 1500 junked vehicles .

The fire began Thursday afternoon when a car being crushed in a hydraulic press ignited, L.A. County Fire Battalion Chief Randy Parrish told KNX News’ Pete Demetriou.

“They think there's something in the car that maybe they missed, or it could have just been from friction, and that's where basically the fire started, in the crusher,” Parrish said.

More than 200 firefighters, water cannons, bulldozers, and even helicopters were called in to contain the blaze. Parrish said the work will go on through Friday morning.

“Our health hazmat team from L.A. County is going to be out here in the morning, and they're gonna work with the owner on mitigating any hazards, you know, gas batteries, what have you,” Parrish said.

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He added that about 25 firefighters will comb through the burned cars and make sure all of the hot spots are extinguished before winds and high temperatures kick up later in the day.

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