#waiehu house fire

The occupant reported that 30 minutes prior, they began charging a Lithium-ion battery in a USB charging device that was plugged into an electrical outlet. The charging device and battery was left on the bed.

Volunteers with the American Red Cross responded to a residential fire reported on Alakai Street in Wailuku on Sunday night, Oct. 9, 2016.

A female occupant reported smelling smoke in the house and evacuated the home after walking into a room used as a business office and finding the air conditioning unit on fire. Fire officials say the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Maui police say the man at the center of yesterday’s arson/suicide investigation suffered from mental health issues, which he reportedly, “believed was caused by carbon monoxide poisoning from his past employment.”

Fire crews from Wailuku and Kahului were dispatched at 9:01 p.m. to the home located at 606 Kaae Road.