SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - A fire ripped through the wall of an Ocean Beach apartment complex, rattling people awake and forcing evacuations overnight.
The corner of the Elan Coco Palms Apartment building, over the carport, caught fire after midnight at the corner of Del Monte Avenue and Bacon Street.
One person said they heard a loud boom before smoke started rising and then several residents ran out of the building after smelling the smoke.
As a precaution, a formal evacuation was issued and more than a dozen residents exited the building, including some families with babies.
The flames damaged the side of the building and residents ran out as they smelled smoke.
Fire crews said it's a bit of a mystery as to what caused the problem, adding that there are no electrical lines in the wall. However, they said the building may have shifted. A building inspector is now part of the investigation to determine the cause.
At 2:00 a.m., residents and their pets were told it was safe to go back in the building, but some decided to sleep in hotels or with family.
No injuries were reported and clean-up efforts are expected to take hours.