Posted on: Sunday, April 21, 2002

Two injured in Waipahu house fire

By Will Hoover
Advertiser Staff Writer

Two people were injured in a Waipahu house fire yesterday morning that caused $160,000 in damage.

Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Richard Soo said the fire at 94-373 Kahuanani St. began in the front part of home, where a family of four lived.

The residence was rented by a 23-year-old man and his 22-year-old wife, who lived there with their two children, a 5-year-old boy and 2-year-old girl.

"The cause of the fire was a child playing with a lighter," Soo said. "The fire began in the rental portion of the house."

The children escaped without injuries, Soo said. The parents suffered first- and second-degree burns and minor cuts to their feet and arms. They declined an offer to ride to the hospital in an ambulance, Soo said.

The owners of the house are a couple who lived in the back portion of the home with their adult daughters, he said. They escaped unharmed, although firefighters had to resuscitate one of the family's three Chihuahuas.

All three dogs survived.

Damage was estimated at $130,000 to the house and $30,000 to the contents.