Posted on: Monday, December 3, 2001

Fire breaks out at Ala Moana

Advertiser Staff

Fire broke out at a Neiman Marcus loading area at Ala Moana Center early yesterday, causing $25,000 in damage to merchandise and other contents before it was doused by a single automatic fire sprinkler head and responding firefighters.

The fire appeared to have started in a bin of tablecloths and napkins from the store's Mariposa restaurant after the linens were brought to the street-level loading area for laundering, said Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo.

Although no specific evidence was found, Soo said investigators believe discarded smoking materials, such as a smoldering cigarette, may have been gathered accidentally in the linens.

The fire caused $500 in damage to the loading area on the makai side of the center, and did not affect the store's retail areas on higher floors, Soo said.