2 dead after early-morning Hilo structure fire

HILO (HawaiiNewsNow) – Two people have died after a large structure fire near the old Puueo Poi Factory that broke out early Saturday morning.

The Hawaii Police Department said two bodies were found in separate areas of the building, and are believed to be those of two female residents, one aged 72 years old and the other 56 years old.

Their identities are withheld pending positive identification and notification of next of kin, police said.

The fire was reported at around 4 a.m. west of the Waiakea Villas water department complex and across from Hilo Shopping Center.

Four companies from the Hawaii Fire Department arrived on scene shortly after 4 a.m. and found a two-story warehouse to be about 60% involved in the fire. The building had been converted into a residential unit.

All the surrounding roadways were blocked during the firefight.

Fire officials said at least 10 people were in the building before the fire broke out.

Four people were unaccounted for, and firefighters began a search while battling the blaze.

The fire was brought under control at around 6:32 a.m. and fully extinguished at around 1 p.m.

“(We) extricated one victim from the back of the building, and couldn’t locate the other victims until overhaul,” said county fire battalion chief Matthew Ho. “Once the fire was out, we did overhaul and found two victims during overhaul.”

Battalion chief Ho confirmed that two of the victims had died.

The Hawaii Police Department also confirmed that two of the unaccounted made it out on their own.

“Everybody that made it out, except for the one that we got out, they self-extricated themselves,” Ho said. “They got out on their own prior to (firefighters) getting on scene.”

Battalion chief Ho added that there were multiple ways out, but believes the exits became blocked.

“There’s ways out the front, as long with the sides, but maybe due to the fire, they were trapped from getting to that one side, and maybe they could only get out from the front side of the building,” he said.

Witnesses reported hearing explosions during the fire.

“There was explosions, they were due to propane cylinders in there,” Ho said. “There (was) multiple 5-gallon cylinders, just overheating in the structure.”

The victims have not been identified, and the investigation is ongoing.

Officials said the American Red Cross is assisting 28 displaced residents.

Damage to the building and its contents is estimated at $500,000.

Hawaii Police are asking anyone with information to call Detective Michael Matsumura at (808) 961-2386, or to call the department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.

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