WWII Era Structure Burns Near Armory

Photo credit : Maui Fire Department

On Friday, 11/06/15, at 10:24 a.m., firefighters responded to a structure fire just north of the Hawaii Army National Guard’s, Puunene Armory off of Mokulele Highway.

Kihei firefighters arrived at 10:29 and learned it was a 10×10 foot 1940’s, WWII era building which housed a water pump for an old swimming pool.

Only the wood shake roof of the building was destroyed and 500 square feet of grass burned.

The rest of the building was made of concrete and was unaffected.

The fire was contained at 10:36 and extinguished at 11:38 a.m.

There was a sugar cane burn in the field next to the building from 4 to 6 a.m., and an ember may have been smoldering on the dry shake roof.

About 20 minutes before the fire was reported, two National Guard helicopters landed nearby. It’s believed that the winds created by the rotor blades may have fanned the smoldering ember and ignited the shake roof.

Firefighters were told that the buildings and area is designated as a national historical site. During the war, the site was used by the military as a recreational area for soldiers stationed at the former Puunene airfield.

Damage to the roof was estimated at $5,000.

The Kihei fire crew and a Kahului water tanker responded to the fire.