Arson suspected in 3 fires at Waikiki Yacht Club
By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer
Fire investigators suspect arson in consecutive blazes that damaged three boats yesterday at the Waikiki Yacht Club.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
A precise damage estimate wasn't available, but Capt. Richard Soo, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman, said losses are expected to reach "several thousand dollars" for each boat.
A firefighter climbs aboard a sailboat at the Waikiki Yacht Club to extinguish a fire. Investigators suspect that three boat fires yesterday were intentionally set.
In addition to the three boats that burned, inspection of two more boats showed evidence of flammable fluids, Soo said, indicating that someone had planned to cause more extensive damage.
The engine and ladder companies from the Pawa'a station and a battalion chief were dispatched to the yacht club at 5:52 a.m.
Firefighters said that after putting out fires aboard two 35-foot sloops next to each other toward the makai end of the harbor, bystanders called them over to a third fire aboard a 25-foot boat, also a sloop rig, docked near the Ala Moana bridge. The smaller boat appeared to have sustained the worst damage, Soo said.
Police and fire investigators were still working to determine the cause, but Soo said the preliminary conclusion is that the fires were intentionally set. Additionally, flammable liquid was found in the cabins of two 40-foot yachts docked in adjacent slips on the yacht club side, Soo said, although no fires had been set there.
"This is truly a criminal act," Soo said. "Nobody lived aboard these boats, but they are close to boats that had people on them, so there could have been loss of life."
Potential witnesses may have ignored extraneous noises from the crimes because of disturbances the previous night during the fireworks exhibition at nearby Magic Island.
Les Vasconcellos, owner of the Urban Renewal, one of the 35-foot vessels, said that from the quick glance into his boat cabin that he was allowed, he could see a flare gun that didn't belong on the craft. Investigators later confirmed that flares found aboard Vasconcellos' boat and the one in the next slip were probably used to ignite those fires.
Two cushions and a sail had been damaged, Vasconcellos said; sails for these rigs cost about $2,000, he said.
Vasconcellos said he was alerted to the fire by a resident of a high-rise across from the yacht club who recognized his boat as one of those on fire.
Reach Vicki Viotti at vviotti@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8053.
