Los Angeles County firefighters responded to a call regarding smoke at about 2:45 p.m. Sunday at the Lakewood Center. The smoke was caused by a malfunctioning air-conditioning unit in the basement of JC Penney, according to a department spokesman. The area was cleared at 3:02 p.m., according to the spokesman.

Sandra Padilla, a JC Penney employee, saw the smoke, and a crowd of employees, along with some customers, evacuated the store. “Nothing too crazy,” Padilla said.