On June 16, the Santa Monica Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire at 2325 Kansas with multiple callers reporting fire blowing out of multiple windows of a two-story apartment building.
Six engines responded to the scene and found a fully involved fire in an upstairs unit.
According to SMFD, the resident was home at the time but was able to escape despite suffering burns that required treatment at a local hospital.
In addition to the fully-engulfed unit, the neighboring apartment suffered minor damage. Firefighters had to rescue two cats from the smoke-filled unit and both were reunited with their owner. The apartment below the main unit has minor water damage. The fire is currently under investigation.
The apartment fire is the second serious incident this week following a grass fire on the Bluffs.
SMFD responded to the 500 block of Palisades Beach Road on Monday and found an approximate 50’ x 100’ fire in heavy vegetation on the bluffs that was being spread uphill by prevailing onshore winds. A coordinated fire suppression effort was made from both the top and bottom of the bluffs to confine and suppress the blaze.
After about an hour, firefighters had the fire out but residual heat and hot spots required additional work through Tuesday morning.
SMFD said the fire appears to have originated within an unattended encampment, however the cause was undetermined.
