Fear of Blast Keeps Firefighters at Bay
An empty Lancaster farmhouse burned to the ground Monday afternoon because high winds and a propane tank explosion hampered efforts to fight the fire, the Los Angeles County Fire Department reported.
Los Angeles County sheriff’s arson detectives were investigating the cause of the blaze, which broke out about 3 p.m. and caused about $85,000 damage, said Fire Captain Mike Saenz.
Firefighters evacuated the area after desert winds fanned the flames toward a large rubbish pile adjacent to a 160-gallon propane tank next to the wooden house. Fearing an explosion, firefighters retreated about 1,000 feet from the house.
Ultimately, the tank exploded, but there were only about 20 gallons of fuel in the tank and the explosion was not as big as had been feared, Saenz said.
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