Homeless Camp Fire Damages Exterior of Kahului Business

Hoʻokele Street fire. Maui Now/ Wendy Osher graphic.

By Wendy Osher

Fire crews responded to a small fire at a homeless camp in Kahului early Friday morning located off of Hoʻokele Street behind Hawaiʻi Growers Products.

The fire was reported at 4:09 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014, and burned 300 square feet of homeless camp items including tents, clothing, portable cooking supplies, and shopping carts, said Maui Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga.

According to fire officials, the fire extended to the nearby HGP building, causing some damage to the exterior of the structure and products stored outside of the building.

The fire was called under control at 4:20 a.m., and was extinguished at 4:48 a.m., according to department reports.

“The integrity of the building was not compromised,” said FS Chief Mainaga, who estimated monetary losses at $4,000.

The cause of the fire was not determined and no injuries were reported.

Fire officials say there was no one at the homeless camp when fire crews arrived on scene.