Cause of Hawaii Kai condo fire unknown
The cause of the Tuesday evening condo fire in Hawaii Kai is undetermined, the Honolulu Fire Department announced this afternoon.
HFD acting spokesman Carl Otsuka said that the fire burned so hot that fire investigators were unable to determine where it originated within the condominium unit that was gutted by the fire.
The fire at Naniwa Gardens, located at 6750 Hawaii Kai Drive, was contained to a single unit, unit 603, in which two dogs died from the fire, HFD said.
Damage was estimated at $360,000 to the unit and $40,000 to the contents. Multiple units above and below have varying degrees of smoke, heat and water damage, HFD said.
The unit resident was not home at the time of the 5:41 p.m. fire, which was under control at 6:18 p.m. and extinguished at 6:45 p.m.
The resident told police that she left home at 8 a.m., Otsuka said.
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Sixteen HFD companies responded with 63 personnel. The first company on scene found heavy smoke and flames emanating from the makai side of the building, and specifically from the affected unit.
The older building did not have fire sprinklers.