HFD probes cause of fire at Makiki apartment

The Honolulu Fire Department is investigating the cause of a fire that partially burned a third-floor unit and injured a tenant of a Makiki apartment Monday night.

A preliminary report indicated that arson was not to blame.

W. Abihai was injured after escaping the fire in his bedroom, which broke out while he was asleep. He was taken to Straub Clinic & Hospital for treatment, according to the apartment manager of Alohi Manor, at 1151 Alohi Way.

The victim told firefighters that he was awakened by the fire that appeared to start near the air conditioner, according to Capt. Kenison Tejada, spokesman for the Honolulu Fire Department.

About 20 firefighters battled the fire which caused $80,000 in damage to the building and $15,000 in damage to the contents, Tejada said.

Abihai's roommate said he was not home at the time the fire broke out, but his belongings suffered little damage.

"Everything he (Abihai) has is charred," said the roommate, who did not want to be identified. The unit is separated by a cement partition.

The roomate said he shared the apartment with Abihai, 53, for four years.

Fire Department officials said Abihai had suffered some burns and a back injury.

The building manager, who did not want to be named, said she saw Abihai walking to the ambulance and Abihai did not need to be taken away on a stretcher.

"The main thing is he's OK, I saw him so I know he's OK. He was more frazzled than anything -- not badly burned," she said.

She was driving back to the apartment when one of her tenants called her about 10:35 p.m. and told her the building was on fire.

"Everybody knows everybody," said the manager, who has lived at the nine-unit building with her family for more than 25 years.

No one else was injured and no other damage has been reported, she said.