A fire on the fourth floor of an apartment building at Kinau Street and Ward Avenue forced the evacuation of the eight-story structure yesterday and caused a lengthy traffic jam on H-1 eastbound.

The fire at Kinau Villa Apartments was so intense a blazing air conditioner fell into the street.

“;It was a flaming fireball dropping from the sky,”; said Eric Conklin, a tenant at a nearby apartment. “;It was very dramatic.”;

Scott Hallal, who lives upstairs from the burning unit, said he heard an alarm, then saw billows of black smoke.

He and other residents evacuated the building at 827 Kinau St.

The fire caused an estimated $125,000 in damage to the structure and contents of the one-bedroom apartment, fire officials said.

The Red Cross was called to help the displaced tenants, a man, 28, and woman, 30.

Firefighters had the blaze under control 16 minutes after receiving the alarm at 1:44 p.m., Fire Capt. Terry Seelig said. He said the cause was under investigation.

Kinau Street was closed between Ward Avenue and Alapai Street for a little less two hours, blocking the Kinau Street exit from the freeway. It was reopened at 3:40 p.m., police said.