Firefighters Douse Blaze In High Rise Apartment In Santa Monica

SANTA MONICA, CA – An apartment in a 14-story high rise building caught fire in Santa Monica Monday evening, according to fire officials. Around 7:15 p.m., the Santa Monica Fire Department responded to the Shores Apartments at 2800 Neilson Way to investigate a fire alarm activation.

When firefighters discovered smoke billowing from an apartment balcony on the tenth floor, additional resources were immediately requested, including all SMFD resources and some from the Los Angeles Fire Department, SMFD said. Firefighters worked to extinguish the flames – it took 33 firefighters 19 minutes to knock the fire out, the press release said.

Fire officials said the flames didn't spread into the common hallway of the building thanks to an activated fire sprinkler head. However, the fire was challenging because authorities needed to fight to keep dozens of impacted residents safe, the press release said.

Firefighters used a combination of sheltering occupants in place and systematically evacuating residents safely out of the building until the fire was brought under control, according to officials.

The flames were confined to the kitchen and living area, but there was extensive water damage to several units below the fire due to the fire sprinkler, SMFD said. No injuries were reported, and the person who lived in the apartment where the fire occurred was not home at the time of the fire, according to the press release. They were displaced as a result of the damage.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

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