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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, December 26, 2009

Fires at 2 homes displace 10 people


By Mary Vorsino
Advertiser Staff Writer

Police are investigating an intentionally set blaze that destroyed a Mililani home early Christmas morning, one of two house fires that displaced 10 people for the holiday.

No one was injured in either fire.

The Mililani blaze started about 3:30 a.m., and HFD investigators determined the fire in the home at 95-604 Wehewehe Loop was started in the living room and three bedrooms. One man was at home at the time of the blaze.

Police said last night that no arrests had been made in the case.

It took about 30 firefighters to get the flames under control. HFD said the first companies to arrive reported heavy smoke and flames throughout the house and began a "quick fire attack." They were able to get the fire under control by about 3:51 a.m.

HFD Capt. Earle Kealoha said the fire was extinguished about 4:54 a.m.

The blaze caused an estimated $500,000 in damage to the home and its contents.

Five people, all members of the military, live in the home, said the American Red Cross of Hawai'i, which was assisting those displaced in the blaze.

The Red Cross was also helping a family of five yesterday after a Christmas Eve fire at a Waipahu home.

Three families live in the house. But the fire only heavily damaged parts of the house where one family lives, Kealoha said.

The fire, at 94-330 Paiwa St., started about 10:54 p.m. The first HFD company to arrive reported that flames were visible "from the front and the left side of the dwelling upon arrival with heavy smoke conditions coming from the rear," Kealoha said.

The fire was under control about 11:15 p.m. and extinguished 45 minutes later.

It caused an estimated $350,000 in damage to the home and its contents.

Kealoha said the family displaced in the fire is staying with relatives. Eleven other adults and six children also live in the home, he said.

Last night, the Red Cross said it would be returning to the Waipahu home to check with the two other families and ensure they don't need assistance. The Red Cross said portions of the home not heavily damaged still apparently have water and smoke damage.

MOTORCYCLE CRASH

Police yesterday responded to one critical accident.

The crash happened about 3:54 p.m., when a motorcyclist apparently lost control while heading east on the Moanalua Freeway Access Road, about 380 feet from the 'Aiea Access Road.

Police said the motorcyclist, a 22-year-old Honolulu man, hit the curbing and guardrail, overturned onto the roadway and came to rest in the right lane.

He was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in critical condition.

Speed was an apparent factor in the crash, while alcohol was not, police said.

The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet.