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Flames from a burning van may have sparked the fire which caused $1.1 million in damage to a two-story warehouse-office complex at 444 Waiakamilo Road in Kalihi early this morning. Van ignites; fire guts
owner’s Kalihi auto-
parts storeBy Leila Fujimori
Star-BulletinFire gutted the Mascot Auto Parts store, destroying merchandise estimated at least at $800,000, said Honolulu fire Capt. Richard Soo. Structural damage to the store was estimated at $300,000.
In addition to the store owner's van, his truck and Mercedes-Benz sedan were also damaged by fire.
Meanwhile, water and smoke damaged the offices and showroom of Electronic Business Machines, the building's only other tenant. The copy machine sales and service business had $150,000 in equipment alone. The building's second floor was unoccupied.
The unidentified 23-year-old owner of Mascot Auto Parts told fire investigators he was doing inventory inside the building when he heard a popping sound shortly before 2:30 a.m., Soo said. He went outside and found his van in flames. The owner, his 22-year-old wife and 2-year-old daughter escaped unharmed.
Ten fire companies responded to the 2:21 a.m. alarm, including two hazardous materials companies, Soo said. The fire was under control by 3:13 a.m., and the last crew left at 6:36 a.m.
The heat was so intense that the steel beams separated from the tile walls, Soo said.
The hazardous materials crews used huge absorbent pads to sop up a large seepage of oil from the store's inventory of motor oil and solvents, he said.
Ron Shirai, owner of Electronic Business Machines, expressed concern about other busineses that rely on his company to service their copy machines. He said he doesn't know how customers could contact his business today.
"Everybody's in a predicament today," Shirai said.