Honolulu fire officials are investigating a fire that engulfed the second floor of a two-story Aiea townhouse, displacing eight residents.

At 10:24 a.m. yesterday, firefighters received a call about the blaze at 98-949 Kaonohi St.

Fire spokesman Capt. Terry Seelig said four adults and four children live in the home, but only one woman and her child were home at the time of the fire. They escaped and were not injured.

Two maintenance workers for the property entered the structure to try to extinguish the fire, but the smoke was overwhelming, Seelig said.

One worker was treated at the scene for difficulty breathing, but refused to be taken to the hospital.

 

  Family Of 8 Loses Home After Fire

 

  The American Red Cross is assisting a family of 8 after they lost their Aiea home to a fire. 

 

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  The fire, which was under control by 10:51 a.m., caused an estimated $110,000 in damage to the structure and $25,000 in damage to its contents, Seelig said. The blaze originated in the second-floor bedroom, he said.

The building suffered extensive damage to its second floor and roof, and had water damage on its first floor. The adjacent unit also might have been damaged.

“;It won't be habitable today, that's why we asked for the Red Cross,”; Seelig said. About 35 firefighters responded to the blaze.

Property Manager Napoleon Arline, who oversees more than 100 homes in the area, said that when he arrived the flames had not yet engulfed the second floor.

“;It was already getting ready to be full blaze at that point,”; Arline said.

He said the family requested privacy as they sought assistance from the Red Cross for housing, but expects a smooth recovery. He said the family is “;doing great”; despite the circumstances.

“;I think we're going to handle this pretty well,”; Arline said.