Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : 300 Acres Burned in Poppy Area : Lancaster: Officials say blaze probably did not cause lasting harm to the park.

A grass fire swept across 300 acres of Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve Park Wednesday, fire officials said, but probably caused no irreparable harm to an area that attracts thousands of visitors annually.

Indeed, authorities said the noon fire will probably rejuvenate the land for next year’s bloom.

“It is perfect for the poppies,” said County Fire Captain Doug Brickey, referring to the golden-orange flowers that bloom at the park from March through May. “There will be more flowers there next year than they have had in years. It is all part of nature’s process.”

On good years for wildflowers, the poppy--the official state flower--is the star attraction in this sparsely populated area 13 miles west of Lancaster. The reserve is the only one in California dedicated to growing the state’s flower.

Wednesday’s blaze started in the northeast corner of the 1,745-acre preserve near 140th Street West and Lancaster Road, according to Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Gil Sanchez. Department of Forestry hand crews used shovels to cut a fire line at Avenue I and 110th Street West to stop the fire from spreading.

Also on hand to help was the county’s recently acquired Super Scooper aircraft that dropped large loads of water on the flames. Four helicopters dropped fire-retardant foam and water.

In addition to the two hand crews, 100 Los Angeles County firefighters fought the fire, which was brought under control in two hours, Sanchez said.

No structures were threatened and there were no evacuations or injuries, Sanchez said. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the United States Department of Forestry.