SANTA MONICA—On Monday, May 8, at about 6:20 p.m., firefighters from the Santa Monica Fire Department responded to a fire that erupted in a five-story, mixed-use building near Downtown Santa Monica, on Lincoln Boulevard near Broadway.
Firefighters arrived at the scene on 1447 Lincoln Boulevard, in response to a triggered fire alarm. Smoke was discovered coming from the subterranean garage, followed by a loud explosion below the street level, which resulted in additional smoke and flames.
Due to the complexity of the fire, a second alarm response was issued. About 45 firefighters in total from the Santa Monica and Los Angeles Fire Departments responded to the scene, along with officers from the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) and multiple ambulances. The fire was extinguished in about 34 minutes.
About 120 residents of the 96-unit complex were evacuated and transported to hotel rooms, with the assistance of American Red Cross and Big Blue Bus. Five businesses on the ground level of the building were closed including: Starbucks, Fresh Brothers, Jersey Mike’s, Shelley’s Videos, and Chase Bank.
According to a report from the Santa Monica Fire Department, Santa Monica police officers were “a vital part of the evacuation process, assisting all families with retrieving their immediate personal belongings and securing their properties.”
No firefighters were injured. Two residents were transported to a hospital for medical issues from the evacuation. The cause of the fire is under investigation, according to officials.
Canyon News reached out to a representative from the Santa Monica Fire Department for further information, but did not hear back before print.
