January 2, 2025 | Kalapana Seaview Estates, Hawai‘i
An abandoned home in Kalapana Seaview Estates was destroyed in an early morning fire on Thursday.
Hawai‘i Fire Department (HFD) and Hawai‘i Police Department (HPD) units were dispatched to Mapuana Street at 12:03 a.m. Responding crews found a 1,500-square-foot, single-story wooden residence fully engulfed in flames.
Neighbors attempted to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby homes using garden hoses and directed firefighters to an access point. According to residents, the structure had been abandoned but was known to be frequented by squatters.
Firefighters quickly brought the fire under control, but the blaze proved challenging to extinguish due to structural instability and hazardous conditions inside the home. Fire crews could not safely enter the building’s interior, and additional difficulties arose from multiple hot spots and a secondary decorative floor covering that fueled the flames.
Hawaiian Electric Light Company (HELCO) was contacted to disconnect electrical service to the property to ensure firefighter safety during operations.
Fire units, including Engines 10 and 5, continued suppression efforts while Tanker 10 and Engine 18 performed water shuttle operations. Crews extinguished the remaining hot spots and completed mop-up efforts before returning to their stations.
Damage and Investigation
The fire caused an estimated $150,000 in damage to the 25’ x 60’ home. The cause of the fire remains undetermined following an investigation. The identity of the property owner is also unknown.
No injuries were reported.
