Crews battle large UC Riverside student housing apartment complex fire

Riverside fire crews are battling flames at a large UC Riverside student housing complex on Friday afternoon, with officials saying they are trying to save as much of the structure as possible as smoke and flames spread.

Aerial views show that flames have spread throughout the large, sprawling University Riverside Gardens Apartments at 2996 Iowa Avenue.

Crews from Riverside city and county departments are responding, tackling flames as they seem to consume much of the complex.  Ontario Fire and Riverside County Cal Fire crews are also responding.

Division Chief Jeff White, RCFD, said he's not sure how the blaze started, but it was first reported on the third floor. 

"Water tower operations are up to put as much water on this fire as we can," he said. 

"The type of what we call a garden-style apartment, that open attic space that can run across, around the entire building, allows the fire to spread unchecked if there wasn't any type of fire suppression system within the attic system."

Evacuations were quickly executed, and the American Red Cross has been requested to assist displaced people at the complex.

UC Riverside said the property is not owned or operated by the university, but that "the university is working to determine how many UCR students reside at that location and provide resources and basic needs."

No injuries or rescues are reported.