Waipahu apartment fire displaces family of 12

A Waipahu man was taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation last night after a neighboring apartment was damaged by fire, said Honolulu fire Capt. Earle Kealoha.

An apartment fire at 94-305 Pupuole St. was first reported last night at 8:09 p.m. The fire was extinguished within 30 minutes, and was primarily confined to the single second-floor apartment, Kealoha said.

A family of 12 people living in the apartment—three adults, six teenagers and three children—was displaced by the fire. The American Red Cross is currently assisting the family.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Man rescued from ridge during Palolo Valley hike

An unidentified man was rescued yesterday after hiking on a Palolo Valley ridge for several days, said Honolulu fire Capt. Terry Seelig.

According to Seelig, the Fire Department received a call sometime before noon after a Palolo Valley resident near Gardenia Street spotted the man on the ridge signaling for help. The uninjured man was then rescued and airlifted to Palolo District Park, where he refused treatment.

Fire in Kauai storage shed was started by children

Fire in a metal storage shed in Koloa, Kauai, was set by children playing with matches, according to a news release from Kauai County.

The fire was reported at about 3:55 p.m. Thursday. When firefighters arrived the fire was nearly extinguished by neighbors using garden hoses, the release said. No one was injured.

Damage to the shed and its contents is estimated at $500.

Fire officials are asking the public to be extra-careful as the dry season approaches. Prevention tips include creating a fire-safe area at least 30 feet around your home, not burning compost and other combustibles under windy conditions, extinguishing cigarettes before disposing of them, never leaving a fire unattended and not leaving matches around children.

Suspect may have fired into window during party

Honolulu police are seeking a man who allegedly fired a gunshot through a window during a party in West Oahu attended by his estranged wife on June 4.

Eugene M. Tupuola, 40, also known as “;Monte,”; has brown hair and eyes, weighs 190 pounds and is 5 feet, 11 inches tall.

Police have classified the incident as an attempted-murder case.

Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.