By Lookout Staff

October 5, 2021 -- The Santa Monica Fire Department is investigating the origins of a fire that raged inside the Goodwill store early Sunday morning.

Firefighters were dispatched to the blaze at the non-profit thrift store at 25th Street and Santa Monica Boulevard shortly before 2:30 a.m., fire officials said.

"Upon arrival, the first-in Engine encountered heavy fire showing from the rear of this structure and initiated the Incident Command System," said Training Captain Walter Patton.

A total of six engines, a ladder truck, a breathing support unit and an ambulance were dispatched to the scene to combat the fire.

Help was requested from the neighboring Los Angeles Fire Department but was called off "after assessing the incident further" before they arrived, Patton said.

"On scene, crews initiated ‘transitional attack’ on the fire, starting from the exterior and ‘transitioning’ to interior with their hose lines," he said.

At the same time, five firefighters ascended the aerial ladder from the ladder truck to the top of the structure.

"There, they used chainsaws to cut holes in the roof which allowed them to provide vertical ventilation and a coordinated attack on the fire," Patton said.

More companies arrived at the scene and cut open doors, ensured no one was trapped inside, protected the property and ensured the fire was completely extinguished, officials said.

Three on-call fire investigators also responded to "perform a thorough investigation of this incident," Patton said.

"The quick decision making and timely efforts of the 19 Firefighters on scene, undoubtedly limited the spread of fire within the commercial structure that is doing business as the Goodwill," Patton said.