Rescued Kāʻanapali Resident Seriously Injured by Fire
By Wendy Osher
***UPDATE: 2:44 p.m. 6/13/13: Maui police have since identified the injured male as an 84-year-old Lahaina resident. According to Police Lt. William Juan, the man was transported to the hospital and was listed in critical condition.
A Maui resident was transported to the hospital in serious condition after being rescued from a burning unit at the three-story Kāʻanapali Royale residential complex last night, authorities said.
Maui Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga said the age of the male occupant was not available, but he confirmed the individual suffered burns to his body in the incident.
According to Mainaga, the fire caused an estimated $200,000 in damage to the two-bedroom two-bath unit located on Kekaʻa Drive in West Maui.
Fire officials say the cause of the fire was undetermined, however, based on observations at the scene and circumstances of the fire, authorities say the most probable cause was accidental.
The fire was reported at 10:50 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12, 2013; and was extinguished just before 11:30 p.m., according to fire department reports.
The fire reportedly started in the living area of unit E-202, and was discovered by occupants of the complex, said FS Chief Mainaga.
Mainaga said the male occupant was rescued from the unit by responding police officers, and was transported by American Medical Response units to the hospital.
Fire crews responding to the scene, including units from Lahaina and Nāpili, were able to extinguish the fire and confine it to the 1800-square foot unit, authorities said.