By Lookout Staff

November 21, 2011 – Santa Monica Firefighters are investigating the cause of a blaze that broke out early Saturday morning at the corner of 15th and Broadway.

The first of seven units dispatched to the scene arrived shortly after the fire was reported at 2:47 a.m. and found heavy black smoke in the underground parking area on the alley side of the structure.

Firefighters from Engine 3 "pulled a 400’, 1 ¾ hose line down to parking levels B1 / B2, where they encountered heavy black smoke and had zero visibility," according to Capt. Judah Mitchell, the Fire Department spokesman.

Engine 3 found the fire using the “Thermal Imaging Camera,” Mitchell said.

"The first fire on level B1 consisted of boxes and construction debris," he said. "The second fire was a 'Bob Cat' tractor, which suffered heavy fire damage to the engine compartment area."

Firefighters searched the entire building for additional fires, but found none, Mitchell said.

A hazard material specialist using specialized monitors found the area had a high concentration of Carbon Monoxide, he said. "The area was ventilated until it was safe for entry."

The fire was extinguished at 3:08, some 20 minutes after it was reported, Mitchell said. No firefighters were injured.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, he said.