IRVINE : Electrical Blaze Forces Evacuation

Three floors of the 11-story TransAmerica Building on Von Karman Avenue were evacuated Monday when an electrical fire broke out on the 10th floor, authorities said.

About 300 people were evacuated from the ninth, 10th and 11th floors, but no one was injured, said County Fire Department Capt. Dan Young. He estimated that the fire caused $5,000 in damage to the building’s electrical system.

Young said workers were able to go back to work about two hours later. He said firefighters determined that an electrical vault on the 10th floor had ignited, resulting in large amounts of smoke. The fire was quickly extinguished, Young said.

Young said the quick, calm evacuation of the building was a testament to holding periodic fire drills.

“It just so happens that only two weeks ago, the Fire Department had drilled people (in the building) about how to evacuate,” Young said.

“Many of the people who evacuated Monday said they were pleased that they knew what to do. Quite a few people were talking about how smooth the evacuation proceeded.”

Young said most of the smoke from the electrical blaze hit the 11th floor of the TransAmerica Building. He said some workers in the building complained of nausea from smoke inhalation, but none required medical treatment at the scene.