Three apartment units were damaged and one family was displaced after a transformer exploded and caught fire at an apartment complex in Santa Monica on Thursday evening.

The incident was reported around 10:46 p.m. at the apartment complex at 850 2nd St., according to Deputy Santa Monica Fire Chief Tom Clemo.

When firefighters arrived at the location they saw heavy fire and smoke on the third floor of the building.

Witnesses told firefigthers that they heard a loud explosion before the fire.

Dozens of residents were evacuated from the building. At least one of them suffered mild smoke inhalation, Clemo said.

Fire agencies from Beverly Hills, Culver City and Los Angeles assisted with service calls in Santa Monica while firefighters battled the apartment fire.

Clemo said firefighters knocked out the flames around 11:28 p.m. The estimated damage caused by the blaze was not imediately known. But the fire destroyed one apartment unit, displacing a family, Clemo said. Two other apartments suffered smoke and water damage.

The blaze also took out power lines, Clemo said.

Residents from the damaged units were able to stay with family members in the area for the night, Clemo said, adding that the Red Cross would be assisting the family that was displaced.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation.

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enter their home Friday morning after a transformer explosion damaged a Santa Monica apartment complex and left one person injured Thursday night, police said.

The apartment building in the 800 block of Ocean Boulevard erupted into flames around 10:45 p.m. after a transformer blew, according to the Santa Monica Police Department. The blaze was knocked down just before 11:30 p.m.

The top floor of the apartment complex was red tagged and residents were not able to enter their home as of 5 a.m. Friday as crews worked to clean up fire, smoke and water damage.

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A witness reported hearing a loud pop and seeing fireballs when the fire broke out.

“I thought a bomb went off,” witness Alicia told NBC4. “The fire plumes were huge. It’s smoking like crazy.”

One woman suffered smoke inhalation. At least four apartments were damaged, police said.

Earlier reports suggested the explosion was at the Oceana Beach Club Hotel, but police later clarified the apartment building was near the hotel.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.