Disaster averted in huge warehouse fire
Firefighters were trying to find the cause of a large warehouse fire that gutted a business at Campbell Industrial Park on Tuesday and burned dangerously close to several fuel tanker trucks.
The fire at 91-080 Hanua St. was reported at 11:16 a.m. It burned a large pile of tires and sent flames about 50 feet above the warehouse. The smoke could be seen from as far as Waipahu, Honolulu fire Capt. Terry Seelig said.
Firefighters who arrived first found the warehouse collapsing over an auto recycling and salvage company called Tows R Us. About 45 firefighters used water and foam to bring the two-alarm blaze under control in about 20 minutes.
While fighting the fire, firefighters noticed that the heat was melting the lights on three 8,000-gallon tanker trucks filled with flammable vapors. Firefighters sprayed water on the tankers, which belong to Ke’alohalani Fuel Transport and were parked next to Tows R Us. The tankers are used to haul unwanted fuel and had not yet been emptied of the gas vapors.
"There could have been a very catastrophic explosion" if the tankers had overheated, Seelig said.
About 20 percent of the 20,800-square-foot warehouse was damaged, but aside from Tows R Us, where the fire apparently started, five other businesses in the warehouse had little or no damage.
Seelig said damage to the structure and contents was estimated at $800,000.
Search is on for ‘possibly missing’ kayaker
Hawaii County police are asking for the public’s help in relaying information on a 41-year-old man who has been reported as "possibly missing" after he embarked on a long-distance kayaking trip last week.
Lance Oliver of Kailua-Kona was last seen on Nov. 22 at Kahaluu Beach Park. Police say he was scheduled to travel north along the coast to the Mahukona Beach area; south to Puuhonua o Honaunau, the City of Refuge; then return to Kahaluu Beach Park about Dec. 12.
Oliver is described as 6 feet 2 inches tall, about 200 pounds, with a muscular build and short brown hair. He left in an inflatable boat or kayak.
Oliver had no cellphone or other form of communication with him. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the police nonemergency line at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.
Cause of house fire remains a mystery
An investigation was unable to determine the cause of a fire that destroyed an Enchanted Lake home last week.
The fire was reported at 4:53 p.m. Friday, and the four-bedroom, single-story wooden home at 640 Palawiki St. was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. The fire also damaged a house next door. No one was hurt.
Honolulu fire Capt. Terry Seelig said a fire investigator narrowed the area where the fire started to a storage closet inside the garage. The closet contained an electrical circuit breaker panel and a gas water heater, both of which could have been at fault, but the fire investigator could not determine which one was to blame by looking at the evidence and damage, Seelig said.
