Fire Behind Morihara Store Burns Kula Office

By Wendy Osher

File image by Wendy Osher.

An early morning fire behind the Morihara Store in Kula burned an office structure on Lower Kula Road.

The incident was reported at 3:09 a.m. on Friday, (November 4, 2011), and was under control by 3:33 a.m., according to fire officials.

Fire reports indicate the incident resulted in $147,000 in damage to the 700 square-foot plantation-style office structure, and $12,000 in damage to contents. There was also $1,000 in damage reported to the back wall of the Morihara Store that was exposed to the flames.

According to authorities, the structure was fully involved when units arrived on the scene. There were no occupants at the time of the fire, and the cause has not yet been released. Crews from Kula, Makawao, and Kahului were able to fully extinguish the blaze by 6:50 a.m.