Posted on: Wednesday, June 18, 2003

'Ewa Beach house fire was arson, HFD says

By Allison Schaefers
Advertiser Staff Writer

The fire that destroyed an 'Ewa Beach home and damaged two others on Monday was deliberately set, but no suspects have been named, fire investigators said.

Honolulu police have been asked to assist with the criminal investigation, said Capt. Kenison Tejada, a spokesman for the Honolulu Fire Department.

The fire, which gutted a single story, wood-frame house on Fort Weaver Road causing $175,000 in damage to the structure and $25,000 to the contents, was started with normal household materials such as paper or cloth, Tejada said.

Investigators concentrated their efforts on two back bedrooms where they said they believe the fire started, Tejada said.

The fire spread to two other homes. It caused $60,000 in damage to the roof and vinyl siding on one house and $10,000 to its contents, and $90,000 in damage to the other house and $50,000 to its contents, Tejada said.

The owner of the gutted home has also been hospitalized for evaluation, police said.

The fire on Monday was not the first time firefighters had visited the man's residence. They were dispatched to the home last week, but that fire report proved false, Tejada said.