Sloppy smoking caused Chiko's fire

Honolulu fire investigators have determined that a fire at Chiko's Tavern was accidentally caused by discarded smoking material, a Fire Department news release said.

The fire began in the back lounge of the bar at 930 McCully St. shortly before 2:24 a.m. Wednesday. The fire caused an estimated $150,000 damage to the lounge.

Man accused of trespass in fire area

Police arrested a 49-year-old Waipahu man for allegedly trespassing in the area of numerous intentionally set Waiawa Ridge fires, which have burned 500 acres during August and September.

The man was arrested and charged Wednesday with second-degree criminal trespassing and driving without a license. The suspect was arrested in the area of Kamehameha Highway and the H-2 freeway underpass on a dirt road heading toward Waiawa.

When asked whether the suspect was a person of interest in the arson case, Michelle Yu, spokeswoman for the Honolulu Police Department, would only reiterate the offenses the man was arrested for and that he was arrested in the area of the fires.

House fire's cause is undetermined

Honolulu fire investigators say the cause of a $300,000 Kailua house fire Wednesday is undetermined.

The fire at 675 Ulumalu St. began in the patio of the one-story house, according to a Honolulu Fire Department news release.

A police officer rescued a woman who was visiting her son's home. She was in the kitchen near the patio, the police officer said.

Fire investigators have completed their investigation, and the case is closed. The undetermined classification means that there is insufficient information to eliminate some or all other possible causes.