Hawaii Fire Department responded to a call of a structure fire at Keopuka Makai road in Captain Cook at 1:17 pm today.
Upon the first unit arrival 1:31. HFD found a 1500 square foot structure fully engulfedin flames. Access to the structure proved difficult as the road to the structure was blocked as well overgrown brush. Handlines were then pulled out by HFD and water was applied. Shuttle operations, as well as bucket drops from Chopper-2, were necessary to gain access and fully extinguish the fire.
A nearby resident reported they witnessed an unidentified male light the structure on fire and the same male was seen in the area as HFD units pulled up on the scene. The unidentified male was taken into custody and arrested by Hawaiʻi Police Department.
The structure was overhauled and the fire was fully extinguished by 2 pm. No Firefighters or bystanders were reported as injured. The cause of the fire has been ruled as arson and the unidentified male arrested at the scene is still under investigation pending charges.