Nearly 200 firefighters gain control of commercial blaze in Carson

After more than eight hours battling a raging fire in a commercial district in Carson, a team of nearly 200 Los Angeles County firefighters gained control of the blaze Thursday evening.

The greater-alarm fire was first reported at 2:25 p.m. at 16325 S. Avalon Blvd. in a commercial building near Hemingway Park, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The smoky fire began in a wooden pallet yard in the 16000 block of South Avalon and quickly spread to neighboring structures, with nearby businesses being evacuated.

Three firefighters were injured in the fight, with two being treated at the scene and the third being taken to a hospital in unknown condition, according to the fire department. No other injuries were reported.

According to KCAL 9, an employee at the facility said a barrel of hand sanitizer may have exploded and ignited the fire.

Fire crews were expected to stay at the scene throughout the night monitoring the smoldering embers of the blaze, according to authorities.

“Right now we have a very significant debris field with boxes behind the warehouse that we have to get to,” Inspector Sean Ferguson, a fire department spokesman told KCAL 9.

Nearby businesses were evacuated, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department.

A Carson Sheriff’s Station spokeswoman said electricity and gas services to nearby businesses and residences were anticipated to be restored by Friday morning.

The Red Cross was on site in the event any services were needed.

Official details about what caused the fire or the extent of the damage were not immediately available.