Fire Damages Santa Barbara Apartment Complex

UPDATE: Santa Barbara Police said a man who lived in the unit where the fire originated was tasered and arrested. Police said when officers responded to the incident, the man resisted and delayed their investigation. The man was apparently, ‘out of it’ when officers found him.

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UPDATE: The cause of the fire is accidental, but likely smoking related. Santa Barbara City Fire says the fire started inside one unit and was contained to that unit. Three other units sustained smoke and heat damage. Several residents were displaced by the fire. No one was hurt. Preliminary damage estimates are at $700,000 for the structure and $100,000 for contents.

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Dozens of Santa Barbara City firefighters are on the scene of a large fire on the 2600 block of State Street.

The fire broke out about 1 a.m. at an apartment complex on El Vedado Lane near State and Alamar.

Flames consumed several apartments in a two story building of the sprawling complex. Firefighters battled the flames inside the residences and from the rooftop as residents looked on.

Smoke could be seen for blocks in the upper State Street area. No roads are closed at this time.

We do not know if anyone was hurt or what started the fire. As of 2:45 a.m. firefighters were still trying to put out hot spots. Many residents stood around holding bags filled with their belongings and trying to figure out where they will stay for the night.