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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM Restlyn Killion and her son Rynex, 2 1/2, awaited word about moving to another unit after a fire destroyed one of their bedrooms at Kuhio Park Terrace yesterday morning. Killion was due to give birth that day.

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Apartment crew
holds fire at bay

A mom and her two sons escape
the blaze at Kuhio Park Terrace

Restlyn Killion was at home with her two sons at her eighth-floor Kuhio Park Terrace apartment when she heard the smoke detector go off about 9:30 a.m. yesterday.

She ran out and saw the flames in the other bedroom, then grabbed her boys, ages 5 and 2 1/2, and ran outside screaming for help.

To make matters worse, Killion is nine months pregnant and her due date was yesterday.

"I'm OK ... just a little tired," she said afterward. "My sons, they were scared."

Honolulu fire crews said by the time they arrived, the fire at No. 804 had already been contained.

Three members of the apartment maintenance crew had heard the alarm and grabbed the emergency fire hose to put out the fire.

Fire Department officials said their quick work probably saved property and potentially even lives.

"They went inside the apartment and confined it to the bedroom," said HFD spokesman Capt. Emmit Kane. "That was important because it could have spread to the upper floors.

"We don't want to promote making entry into a burning unit and fighting the fire yourself ... but they did hold it at bay until we could come and wrap it up."

The three maintenance men were identified as Taoipu Faitele, Sisifo Faleafine and Polesi Ki. Building officials said at least two of the men had fought fires in the building before.

"Our guys did well," said Robert Faleafine, building manager and uncle of Sisifo Faleafine. "They made sure no one was inside the unit. Two of them went inside and fought the fire while one of them connected the hose.

"They've done this before. ... KPT is KPT."

Faleafine said he is looking for a replacement unit to house Killion and her sons. Fire officials said damage to the unit and its contents is estimated at $6,500. Investigators said the fire appears to have been started by a child playing with matches.

"The unit is unlivable. ... One bedroom is fully gutted," Kane said. "But everybody escaped without injury ... so we were lucky."