Man rescued from Kaimuki house fire
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
Firefighters last night rescued an elderly man who was trapped and unconscious inside his burning Kaimuki house.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
The man, estimated to be in his 90s, was found in the rear of the home at 3614 McCorriston St.
Firefighters arrived at 3614 McCorriston St. in Kaimuki last night to find the front of the house engulfed in flames.
Firefighters and paramedics attended to an elderly man rescued from his burning home in Kaimuki last night. The man's son suffered a foot injury. Both were hospitalized.
Fire Capt. Emmit Kane said arriving firefighters found the front of the home engulfed in flames and were told that a man was still inside.
"Neighbors had directed firefighters to his most likely last location and, sure enough, firefighters were able to make entry and that's where they found him, unconscious and on the floor," Kane said.
The man was breathing and was rushed to a hospital, but his condition was not available. His son, who suffered a foot injury, also was taken to a hospital.
The cause of the fire and a damage estimate were not available last night
Ken Wright said he was at home when his son said he smelled smoke at about 9:50 p.m. His son went outside and came in yelling that "Grandpa's house is on fire." Wright said they were not related to the men in the burning home.
"I got the hose and stuff and was trying to shoot water out front," Wright said. "I started pounding on the front wall to try to get anybody out."
He said he and several neighbors helped the elderly man's son, identified as Bobby, out a window. Then they heard the frightening news.
"I asked the son, 'Is your father still in the house?' and he said, 'Yes, he's still in the house,'" said neighbor Dolores Yoza. "I was yelling at him to get out, but there was no response, and the son kept saying, 'He's still in the house. He's still in the house.' "
Wright said neighbors attempted to go into the burning home, but the heat and smoke were too intense.
Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.
