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By Lookout Staff
May 9, 2017 -- A fire that broke out Monday evening in a mixed-used project near Downtown Santa Monica temporarily displaced 120 tenants and closed down five ground-floor businesses, Fire Department officials said.
Firefighters responding to a fire alarm triggered at the five-story building at 1447 Lincoln Boulevard found smoke coming from the subterranean garage, followed by a "loud, powerful explosion below street level," officials said.
"This led to more fire and smoke developing" and a call for a full structure assignment while firefighters looked for the source.
A total of 45 firefighters from the Santa Monica and Los Angeles fire departments, as well as ambulances, responded to the fire, which was extinguished in 34 minutes, officials said.
Residents of the 96 units in the complex were evacuated and Starbucks, Shelley’s Video, Chase bank, Fresh brothers and Jersey Mike’s were shuttered, officials said.
Santa Monica Police was "a vital part of the evacuation process, assisting all families with retrieving their immediate personal belongings and securing their properties," they said.
Two residents were transported to a local hospital "for medical issues related to the evacuation," according to officials. No firefighters were hurt.
With the assistance of the local American Red Cross, all of the displaced residents were transported in two Big Blue Buses to hotel rooms while the building's electrical power was restored, officials said.
The detail ended shortly after midnight and surrounding streets were reopened.
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