StarBulletin.com

Fire heavily damages Kalihi warehouse


By

POSTED: Saturday, January 30, 2010

Fire last night caused $400,000 in structural damage and $75,000 to contents in part of a Kalihi warehouse occupied by Lava Lining, a company that specializes in bed lining for pick-up trucks, the Honolulu Fire Department reported.

Damage to an adjacent side of the warehouse, on the corner of Republican and Mokauea Streets, has not been determined. It was occupied by a company specializing in Marine Engine Filtration and Water Purification Systems, according to the HFD.

Nine fire companies responded to the fire after receiving the call about 10:30 p.m. and had it under control before 11 p.m. It was extinguished at about 2 a.m. today.

Fire Capt. Earle K. Kealoha said the first companies arriving on the scene “were met with thick, heavy black smoke bellowing from the roof of this warehouse and the initial fire attack was delayed until firefighters could gain access through two roll-up doors, used by each of the tenants occupying the building.”

After entering the building, firefighters set up ventilating fans were set up to push the toxic smoke out of building so they could find the source of the fire and extinguish it with hand lines, he said.

A total of 39 firefighters were at the scene with five engines, one Quint, one Tower company, Rescue 1, Hazmat 1 and Battalion 1.

Hazmat specialists were called in after after the fire was under control determine any hazardous products present in the warehouse and potential danger to responders.

“Isocyanates, which produces cyanide gas, was determined to be the most critical product consumed in this blaze,” Kealoha reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.