--
Oct. 29--CARSON, Calif. -- Fire investigators determined Friday that the cause of a huge fire that erupted Thursday evening at three-story senior residential complex under construction in Carson was an accident.
The fire broke out around 5:00 p.m. at the Renaissance City Center, located at 21828 S. Avalon Boulevard, hitting three alarms within minutes.
The blaze raged out of control for over an hour, with flames shooting 100 feet into the air.
Five buildings were destroyed, and six more were damaged, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
The fire spread to a mobile home park sitting some 40 feet away from the construction site, where about 30 mobile homes were either damaged or destroyed.
All residents of the mobile home park were allowed back into their ravaged homes Friday.
Residents of the senior living buildings were allowed to return home late Thursday night.
The total estimated damage from the fire is $3.1 million, with $2.5 million for the senior living center and $600,000 for the mobile home park.
Authorities went door to door to evacuate residents, while firefighters provided structure protection in the mobile home park.
Senior citizens were evacuated from two buildings on the property.
In all, about 139 people were displaced, L.A. County Fire said.
Evacuees were taken to the Carson Community Center, where the Red Cross administered care to residents.
Los Angeles City Fire officials have confirmed that everyone made it away from the blaze safely. No injuries were reported.
