|
5 homeless after
Palama house fire
Heavy smoke and heat discourage
residents from fighting the blaze
A Palama house fire left five men homeless but no one injured yesterday at about noon.
The fire at 815 Lopez Lane started while two of the residents were home, Honolulu Fire Department officials said. The men smelled the smoke but thought it was coming from somewhere else.
"They went outside to see where the smoke was coming from because they thought it was a neighbor's house," HFD spokesman Capt. Emmit Kane said. "But then a neighbor pointed out that the smoke was coming from one of their bedroom windows.
"They went back inside the house to try and put the fire out, but by then the smoke and heat were too much so they retreated."
The thick, black smoke seemed to come from everywhere, witnesses said.
"We tried to see if anyone was in the house," said Chris Cluney, who lives in another house on the same property and is a relative of the people who live in the house where the fire occurred.
With firefighters carrying oxygen tanks hurrying by him, Bernardo Acordo heard from neighbors that his house had burned down. The home, at 815 Lopez Lane in Palama, had four other occupants.
The heavy smoke might have been a good thing, Kane said, because it forced people to move away from the burning home.
"The residents could have gotten disoriented even if it is their home," he said. "And then it's easy to go unconscious from the heat and smoke.
"Better to call 911 and stay out," he said.
Kane said the fire appears to have originated in a middle room.
The cause of the fire has not been determined, but damage to the home and its contents is estimated at $275,000.
Police closed off several roads while firefighters battled the flames.
The Hawaii State Chapter of the American Red Cross is helping displaced residents find temporary living arrangements, food and clothing.
[News] [Business] [Features] [Sports] [Editorial] [Do It Electric!]
[Classified Ads] [Search] [Subscribe] [Info] [Letter to Editor]
[Feedback]
