Survivor sues
landlord, city for
deadly Palolo fire

Star-Bulletin staff

A Palolo family who lost seven family members in one of Honolulu's deadliest fires in recent history is suing the city and former landlord.

In a lawsuit filed yesterday in Circuit Court, Elaine Faumuina, whose husband, daughter, son-in-law, son and three grandchildren died in the October 1997 fire, alleges that the Honolulu Fire Department failed to provide sufficient staff and equipment to respond adequately to the early morning blaze on Palolo Avenue.

Palolo firefighters were responding to a medical call when the fire broke out and a Kaimuki company responded, arriving four minutes after the 12:36 a.m. alarm.

The suit also contends the Board of Water Supply failed to properly maintain a fire hydrant closest to the Faumuina residence.

Neighbors had said that hydrant wasn't working, forcing firefighters to waste precious time hooking up to another hydrant nearby.

The suit also alleges that property owners Ted and Patricia Li failed to provide a safe dwelling or provide adequate protection against fire and loss of life.