Watercress Fire Deemed Accidental

Watercress Lounge, Waiehu. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

A fire at the Watercress Sports Bar & Grill in Waiehu resulted in an estimated $5,000 to the stove and back wall of the business, fire officials said.

The incident was reported at 11:38 p.m. on Tuesday, and was called extinguished at 12:51 a.m.

Maui Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga said the kitchen fire was accidental due to an unattended pot left on the stove.

Other businesses at the Waiehu Beach Center were evacuated during the incident, which involved about 40 people. No injuries were reported.

Waiehu Beach Center. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Fire officials say they responded to reports of a slight odor of smoke within the building, and upon investigation found a kitchen fire within the Watercress Lounge and the building’s attic space filled with smoke.

The sports bar was unoccupied when the incident occurred, and the fire was initially controlled by an automatic fire suppression system, according to department reports.