JASON GENEGABUS / JASON@STARBULLETIN.COM
An eighth-floor apartment caught fire yesterday afternoon in the Wailana at Waikiki condominium complex on Ala Moana. The apartment’s occupant escaped without injury.
Waikiki condo fire
forces evacuationThe female occupant
of the eighth-floor unit at
Wailana escapes without injury
The fire department evacuated residents of a Waikiki high-rise when an eighth-floor apartment caught fire yesterday afternoon at the Wailana at Waikiki condominium complex on Ala Moana.
The fire was reported at 4:54 p.m. in apartment 800. The first fire units called for a second alarm after seeing smoke and flames coming from the unit. About 35 firefighters from eight companies got the fire under control at about 5:15 p.m.
"It's a strange thing to look down and see all those flames in the building that we're in," said Tom Knapke, who lives on the 15th floor with his wife.
The apartment's occupant, described by other residents as an elderly woman, was home at the time but escaped without injury. Fire officials said she was staying with friends last night.
The cause of the fire was under investigation and a damage estimate was not available last night.
The building was not equipped with a sprinkler system.
