Waiehu Structure Fire Destroys Home, Seven Displaced

Maui Now graphic by Wendy Osher.

At 7:49 a.m. Sunday morning, firefighters responded to a residential structure fire at a home on Lekeona Loop, in Waiehu.

Wailuku firefighters arrived at 7:58 a.m. to find a single-story structure fully engulfed by flames.

Crews confirmed that all occupants were out of the home, then went to a defensive strategy – preventing fire from spreading to adjacent structures.

The fire was called under control around 10:00 a.m. and extinguished at 11:30 a.m. Fire was contained to the structure of origin, however, a home next door did sustain minor damages to the exterior.

Six people and the family dog, who were at home when the fire started, all got
out safely. Two adults sleeping in the living room were awakened by the heat
and saw smoke rolling across the ceiling. Family members tried getting to the two children and their elderly grandfather in a rear bedroom, but were turned back by heat and flames. The three also tried to escape their bedroom but were trapped by the heat and flames outside their bedroom door. Family members eventually rescued them by pulling them out through a bedroom window.

Four adults and three children living in the home have been displaced and will be
staying with relatives. The American Red Cross was on scene and assisting the
family.

The fire started near a laundry room, but the exact cause was undetermined.
Damages were estimated at $500,000 to structure and $300,000 to contents. No
one was injured.

An engine from Wailuku, along with engine, rescue, and hazmat units from
Kahului, and a battalion chief responded to the fire.

Photo credit: Cindy Willing O’Farrell

Photo credit: Anna Gerrodette-Honda

Photo credit: Anna Gerrodette-Honda