Via Santa Monica Fire Department press release.
On Monday May 8, 2017 at 6:14 p.m. the Santa Monica Fire Department responded to 1447 Lincoln Blvd. for an activated fire alarm. Initial arriving firefighters found smoke in the subterranean parking area, and during their investigation an explosion and fire occurred in the electrical vault room.
Forty-five firefighters from the Santa Monica Fire Department and Los Angeles Fire Department worked to confine and extinguish the fire in 34 minutes. The building is a five-story mixed use apartment building and was occupied and in normal use at the time of the fire, including the five businesses on the ground floor. Smoke throughout the building and the loss of power required the complete search and evacuation of all 94 apartment units.
Approximately 120 residents were assisted out of the building, thanks to the assistance of Santa Monica Police Officers, Red Cross, and the Big Blue Bus. Nineteen residence required hotel accommodations overnight, which was provided by NMS, the property management company.
There were two residents that were injured during the evacuation who were treated by SMFD Paramedics and taken to a local hospital in stable condition. No injuries to responders reported.
The cause of the explosion and fire was unknown, however no suspicious circumstances were found.
