HFD: ‘Intense’ blaze that tore through Kailua warehouse, injured firefighter deemed accidental
Officials say that the fire originated in the employee kitchen. A Honolulu Fire Department investigators have determined the cause of the “intense” two-alarm blaze at a business and warehouse in Kailua, Hawaii, on March 17 to be accidental. The fire caused $170,000 to the property and $225,000 in damage to the contents of the contents. A firefighter was injured and taken to a hospital for treatment, and has since been released in good condition. The cause of this fire was due to an energized stove igniting nearby combustible materials, and the damage estimate to the adjacent auto shop is $29,000. There have also been more fires involving businesses, with flames shooting up from a wood supply business in Mapunapuna and from drivers on the H-1 Freeway.
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Published : one year ago by in
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Honolulu Fire Department investigators have determined the cause of the “intense” two-alarm blaze at a business and warehouse in Kailua to be accidental.
The fire occurred on March 17 at the Puna Noni Naturals store on 905 Kapaa Quarry Road.
Officials say that the fire originated in the employee kitchen.
HFD said the cause of the fire was due to an energized stove igniting nearby combustible materials.
Officials say the damage estimate is $170,000 to the property and $225,000 to the contents.
HFD also said the damage estimate to the adjacent auto shop impacted by the fire was $29,000 to the property and $30,000 to the contents.
HFD Capt. Malcolm Medrano said firefighters had to force their way in from the back because there was so much smoke pouring out of the front. A firefighter was injured and taken to a hospital for treatment.
He has since been released in good condition.
Rose Polvado, owner of Pomai Kulolo, said her employees tried to put out flames at their neighbor’s business with a water hose and fire extinguisher.
“Flames were just overtaking though,” said Polvado.
“We even got our water hose hooked up, all of our workers came up to try to help.”
Medrano said putting out commercial fires is challenging because all of the items and products inside pose unexpected hazards and can even make the flames more dangerous.
“In this case, there’s palletized materials. There’s package materials that creates an intense and really hot fire that spreads really, really quickly,” said Medrano.
HFD said there’s recently been more fires involving businesses.
On Thursday night, flames shot up from a wood supply business in Mapunapuna and could be seen from drivers on the H-1 Freeway.
“A lot of times it’s heavy, we might not have confidence in the upper floors, as well,” said Medrano.
“Might be susceptible to caving in and that’s what kind of prevents us from being really aggressive.”