A Riverside resident smoking a cigarette near her medical oxygen supply caused a fire on her retirement home’s 10th floor, which houses 12 other residents. Carolyn Johnson reports for the NBC4 News at 3 on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016.
Dozens of residents were displaced Thursday morning after a fire started at a Riverside high-rise apartment building for seniors.
The fire started at around 12:30 a.m. on the tenth floor of the Mount Rubidoux Manor located in the 3900 block of 10th Street, according to the City of Riverside Fire Department.
The fire turned into a five-alarm blaze, said Batallion Chief Bruce Vanderhorst.
The fire was knocked down within 10 minutes by 73 firefighters and was confined to that unit, although the 10th floor sustained heavy smoke damage, fire officials said.
Residents were seen out in their balconies as the fire shot out from the tenth floor, Vanderhorst said.
Two residents were transported to a hospital for smoke inhalation and fire crews evacuated 185 residents to a senior citizen center across the street while some living on the lower floors sheltered in place, fire officials said.
Firefighters were working Thursday morning to return evacuees to their units, except for those residing on the 10th floor; those tenants were being helped by the American Red Cross find alternate shelter.
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The cause of the fire was under investigation.
According to its website, Mount Rubidoux Manor offers housing for low-income seniors 62 years and older and to people with disabilities.
