Big Island police are investigating a suspicious death after a body, burned beyond recognition, was found in a truck in a remote Puna subdivision.

At approximately 10 a.m. Monday, police and fire units responded to a side road off 39th Avenue near Pohaku Drive in the Orchidland subdivision to a reported vehicle engulfed in flames. After dousing the flames, firefighters observed burned human remains within the vehicle. Investigators were unable to immediately identify whether the remains are of a male or female.

Police say they have reason to suspect that this incident is related to evidence located at another property, also on 39th Avenue but near Aulii Drive.

Detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section have classified the case as a murder.

Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to call the Police Department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 or Detective Kayne Keli‘i at 961-2378 or Kayne.kelii@hawaiicounty.gov.

Firefighters rescue 2 dogs in Kahaluu house fire

Firefighters rescued two dogs from a Kahaluu house fire Monday night.

Twenty-two firefighters responded to a 7:07 p.m. alarm for a house fire at 47-481 Alawiki St.

The first crew to arrive at 7:15 p.m. found light smoke coming from a back bedroom window.

The fire was brought under control at 7:31 p.m. and extinguished by 7:46 p.m.

No one was home at the time of the fire, fire officials said in a news release.

Firefighters found the dogs inside the home, and neighbors cared for the dogs until the owners returned home.

The cause and damage estimate had not been determined last night.