Nāpōʻopoʻo, Hawaiʻi – Firefighters responded to a structure fire on Aka Ala Street in Nāpōʻopoʻo on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at approximately 6:06 p.m., resulting in an estimated 80% loss to the residence. The Hawaiʻi Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Bureau is now investigating the cause, with initial observations focusing on an area near the home’s electrical panel.
Upon arrival, fire units found a single-story, three-bedroom house heavily involved in flames, with heavy black smoke and fire showing from the Alpha, Bravo, and Delta sides of the structure. The “Delta” side, which faced the closest neighboring house, exhibited the heaviest flame and heat. Neighbors were actively using garden hoses to try and contain the fire’s spread before firefighters could establish their lines.
The house, constructed with a post and pier wood frame and featuring vaulted ceilings with open beams, also included a two-car carport.
Firefighters immediately initiated defensive operations to protect the neighboring property and then transitioned to an offensive attack on the main structure. Due to the rapid progression of the fire, the primary focus was on containing the blaze. The fire was brought under control at 6:40 p.m. and extinguished at 7:37 p.m.
Once the fire was under control, investigators noted that the area with the most significant damage was located by the breaker box and an unidentified appliance. While it was unclear if this was a cooking area like a kitchen, the adjacent porch also showed burn-through flooring in the area next to the “breaker box room.” The absence of furnishings in the main living room, which opened onto the porch, may have contributed to the relatively fast knockdown of the fire.
The estimated loss to the structure and contents is approximately $252,000, with an estimated $63,000 saved. There were no injuries reported.