KEN SAKAMOTO / KSAKAMOTO@STARBULLETIN.COM
An older model Buick Skylark was destroyed
when the pole fell on it this morning.

Utility pole,
fork lift used to
vandalize auto
body shop

The pole's transformer
apparently was the cause of
4 fires early this morning

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By Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.com

Somebody cut down a utility pole, then used a fork lift to knock it over onto cars at the Tony Group Body Shop in Waipahu early this morning.

Honolulu Fire Department officials said two cars, a dumpster and the outside of the body shop's paint room were damaged by fire in separate blazes. Investigators believe the transformer on the utility pole started all four fires.

Damage to the vehicles and the building was estimated at $54,000.

"Somebody used a chain saw to cut two sides of the utility pole, lumberjack style," said Capt. Richard Soo of the Honolulu Fire Department. Fire officials suspect the fork lift that was used to knock the pole over was stolen from a business nearby.

The fire at 94-223 Farrington Highway was reported at 3:12 a.m. today. Firefighters were on the scene in a few minutes and had the fires to the two cars, dumpster and building under control by 3:35 a.m.

One of the damaged cars was being serviced by Schuman Carriage, which leases space for its Waipahu Subaru dealership from Tony Group.

"One car got destroyed when the transformer fell on it. It was an older model Buick Skylark," said Carl Morley, Schuman Carriage manager.

The other car was being serviced by Tony Group, which also owns the paint room.

Officials from both Schuman Carriage an the Tony Group said they do not know who might have caused the damage.

Sandy Arbuckle, manager at the Tony Group, said the damage was minimal. "We are very grateful, it could have been much worse. If it had gotten into the paint room our whole place would have blown up," Arbuckle said.

Electricity was cut off to several customers, including the Tony Group and Schuman Carriage.