Posted on: Saturday, August 7, 2004

Wailuku bakery burns, killing cat

By Christie Wilson
Advertiser Neighbor Island Editor

WAILUKU, Maui — Stillwell's Bakery & Cafe, a popular business in Wailuku, burned in an early-morning fire yesterday that killed a cat in an adjacent veterinary clinic.

A second cat from the Wailuku Pet Clinic was recovering after firefighters gave it oxygen, said Assistant Chief Alan Cordeiro of the Maui Department of Fire Control.

The fire was reported at 12:50 a.m., when the bakery was unoccupied, Cordeiro said. Firefighters from the Wailuku and Kahului stations had the blaze under control at 1:10 a.m. and extinguished an hour later.

The vet clinic sustained some smoke damage, but no other businesses in the small commercial complex on Ka'ahumanu Avenue were affected, Cordeiro said.

Bakery owner Roy Stillwell could not be reached yesterday. Cordeiro estimated losses at $145,000 to the building and $50,000 to contents.

He said the fire appeared to have started accidentally in a rubbish can, perhaps after someone dropped a smoldering cigarette butt in before leaving.

The business had been in operation for at least 10 years, and was known for its holiday and cream pies, fresh bread and sandwiches, quiche and salads.

The two cats lived at the vet clinic run by Winford Ideue. The male that perished was named Jet Li after the martial arts actor because it was always "zipping around" the clinic, said a clinic worker. The survivor, a female named Lilinoe, was still sluggish from the ordeal, the worker said.

Reach Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 244-4880.