Downtown Blaze: Red Cross Shelters 53 Tenants

More than 50 tenants of an apartment building that caught fire Friday are being sheltered by the Red Cross this weekend.

The city yellow-tagged the old, brick building at 1305 Second St. because of electrical issues and other safety concerns, limiting access for emergencies only. Many of the displaced residents have medical issues and are elderly and, or disabled, according to Santa Monica Red Cross spokesman Bill Bauer.

"Tenants were escorted in and out of the structure by firefighters to retrieve medicine and personal essentials before being transported to a shelter set up by the American Red Cross," he said. 

The fire in the 53-unit building at the corner of Arizona Avenue and Second Street was contained to one unit, but smoke spread to the second and possibly third floors. Residents were seen climbing out of windows and clambering down fire escapes when firefighters arrived on scene at 4:46 p.m., according to Santa Monica Fire Capt. Mike McElvaney.

Some were left shivering in the wind, rain and cold late into the evening; many others were sheltered temporarily in a Big Blue Bus on Arizona.

McElvaney estimated that as many as 50 people were inside the building when the blaze erupted.

"There were were reports of people self evacuating, hanging on to windowsills," he said. "There was heavy smoke visible from the first floor. Right at the entrance, fire was visible."

The cause is under investigation but a couple of residents said they heard popping sounds before the fire broke out, possibly from exploding oxygen tanks.

"I was just so glad to get out, I've never seen so much smoke in my life," said resident Michael Silva. "My apartment filled up with smoke... in less than 30 seconds."

Silva escaped out a window with the help of police officers after a neighbor, Navy veteran Brian Helip, started telling residents to get out of the building.

"My military instincts kicked in," Helip said while wrapped in a blanket, shivering.

Investigators were still on scene at 7 p.m. Authorities shut down the street at Wilshire Boulevard and those who parked in adjacent public garage No. 4 were unable to get to their cars.

@danilolee Tweeted a picture at 5:45 p.m. showing the side of the apartment building visibly charred.

Three people were treated for smoke inhalation and some minor bumps and bruises from trips and falls, according to McElvaney.

All of Santa Monica's fire units were on the scene Friday evening, and L.A. Fire Department units were called in to assist fighting the blaze.