Attic fire erupts at Santa Monica townhouse; ceiling fan eyed as possible cause

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (KABC) -- Firefighters extinguished a fire that began Tuesday morning inside a vacant townhouse and spread through its attic, possibly caused by a ceiling fan, officials said.

Firefighters initially responded to the scene at a 4-unit building at 4 a.m., after smoke alarms alerted nearby residents and they called 911, said Battalion Chief Jonathan Sly of the Santa Monica Fire Department.

They discovered flames in the attic and knocked them down. No injuries were reported.

Investigators were looking at a possible electrical fire in a ceiling fan as the possible origin of the blaze.

Residents of the adjacent townhouses were evacuated. It was unclear when they would be allowed to return to their homes.

The official cause of the fire remained under investigation.