Carolyn Sackariason/Daily Press Witnesses and employees stand outside of Plaza Cleaners on Wilshire Boulevard Saturday night after a fire broke out on the bottom floor. Santa Monica firefighters responded within three minutes to the blaze, which started at about 7:40 p.m. Firefighters had the fire contained within five minutes, said SMFD Battalion Chief Kent Coble. Offices above the dry cleaners, which were unoccupied at the time of the blaze, sustained smoke damage. The contents of the dry cleaners is a total loss, as is some of the equipment. The cause of the fire is under investigation and damage is estimated to be in the tens of thousands of dollars.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 7, 2005. Read the original PDF.