Family displaced by Santa Monica transformer explosion, apartment fire

Three apartment units were damaged and one family was displaced after a transformer exploded and caught fire at an apartment complex in Santa Monica on Thursday evening.

The incident was reported around 10:46 p.m. at the apartment complex at 850 2nd St., according to Deputy Santa Monica Fire Chief Tom Clemo.

When firefighters arrived at the location they saw heavy fire and smoke on the third floor of the building.

Witnesses told firefigthers that they heard a loud explosion before the fire.

Dozens of residents were evacuated from the building. At least one of them suffered mild smoke inhalation, Clemo said.

Fire agencies from Beverly Hills, Culver City and Los Angeles assisted with service calls in Santa Monica while firefighters battled the apartment fire.

Clemo said firefighters knocked out the flames around 11:28 p.m. The estimated damage caused by the blaze was not imediately known. But the fire destroyed one apartment unit, displacing a family, Clemo said. Two other apartments suffered smoke and water damage.

The blaze also took out power lines, Clemo said.

Residents from the damaged units were able to stay with family members in the area for the night, Clemo said, adding that the Red Cross would be assisting the family that was displaced.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation.