Fire rips through complex under construction in Carson
A fire tore through a multi-story residential complex under construction in Carson on Thursday evening, burning about 10 adjacent mobile homes and shooting flames 100 feet into the sky.
No injuries were reported in the blaze, which broke out about 5 p.m. in the 21000 block of Avalon Boulevard. Thick clouds of smoke billowed from the wood-frame complex as flames jumped an alley and began burning structures in the mobile home park.
“The radiant heat was intense,” said Capt. Mark Savage of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Firefighters were perched atop towering aerial ladders as they drenched the flames with thousands of gallons of water. The blaze was knocked down about 7:30 p.m. Smoke still drifted from the site and huge puddles of water formed on the ground as firefighters mopped up hot spots and checked mobile homes for smoldering embers.
Officials late Thursday did not have an estimate on how many people were evacuated. Some went to a temporary shelter set up at the Carson Community center.
The blaze was raging out of control when the first fire units arrived about three minutes after the incident was reported, officials said. The first-in crews immediately called for additional fire engines.
The three-story structure had more than 100 units and was being framed. The large volume of wood, coupled with the open spaces, allowed wind to blow through the structure and stoke the blaze, officials said.
“You have plenty of fuel load and plenty of oxygen,” Fire Chief Daryl Osby told KTLA-TV Channel 5.
Fire officials said they were fortunate that the winds were not stronger. A red-flag warning that had been issued for powerful winds was canceled before the blaze broke out because the breezes had subsided.
Still, embers blew to neighboring properties and grass and palm trees caught on fire.
“We were chasing all that stuff down,” Savage told The Times, adding that the smaller fires were quickly extinguished.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
Los Angeles Times staff writer Luis Sinco contributed to this report.
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