Fire investigators have determined that a stove started a fire that caused $600,000 worth of damage to a cottage used as an office on the premises of a $5 million Portlock home.

Capt. Terry Seelig, Fire Department spokesman, said the electrical circuits to a stove in the cottage had been turned off and the stove top had been used as a storage counter at 1 Kokee Place.

However, the fire started after maintenance workers re-energized the circuit to fix a sprinkler system. 

The fire started at 8:53 a.m.  May 31 in the cottage. Firefighters used compressed air form to control the blaze in 10 minutes. One person at home in the cottage got out without injuries. 

Seelig said the cottage had expensive furnishings and was heavily damaged. 

Seelig also said fire investigators were not able to determine the cause of another fire earlier the same day which caused $400,000 damage to the three Kalihi businesses — Koele’s Ono Mochi, Ohana Shells and Hula Supply and Car Audio Evolution, at 156 Mokauea St.

Three vehicles in back of the building were also damaged.

The fire broke out at 12:40 a.m. at 156 Mokauea Street where a mochi shop, hula supply store and car audio business are located.

Seeling said the fire started in a storeroom behind the hula supply store.