Lightning Sparks High Desert Fires, Outages

Thunderstorms lashed the Antelope Valley Thursday, bringing lightning strikes that sparked several fires and caused power outages while rain flooded streets, authorities said.

Lightning struck an abandoned trailer in the 20300 block of East Avenue Q-12 near 203rd Street in Llano shortly after 3 p.m., Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Ed Loney said. The bolt set the trailer ablaze and touched off a one-acre brush fire.

Lightning ignited another brush fire at California 138 and 263rd Street East about 4:05 p.m. Two water-dropping helicopters and 120 firefighters helped extinguish the blaze, he said. Other fires were reported in Valyermo and throughout the Antelope Valley, Loney said. Rain late in the day helped douse the flames.

About 18,000 Antelope Valley residents lost power Thursday afternoon, Southern California Edison spokeswoman Alis Clausen said. About 2,000 Lancaster residents were without power for 1 1/2 hours Thursday evening, she said.

Edison crews were busy Thursday night attempting to restore power to about 250 residents near Avenues R and 10th Street in Palmdale, Clausen said. It was not known when power there would be restored.

Power at the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station went out about 5:20 p.m. but was quickly restored by the station’s own generators, Sheriff’s Lt. Steven Fredericks said.

Spotters for the National Weather Service reported about .10 inches of rain in Lancaster, though more fell in the foothills and San Gabriel Mountains, meteorologist Bruce Rockwell said.

Streets around Avenue K and 10th Street West and 12th Street West were flooded, Fredericks said.

Similar humid weather and thunderstorms are expected to pass through the Antelope Valley again this afternoon, Rockwell said. Drier weather is expected Saturday.