Rain puts damper on fires

By Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writer

A house at 2211 Anianiku in Papakolea was damaged in a New Year's Eve fire. Shannon Kayatani's family owns the home, and he was planning to move in soon. Kayatani says that the fire may have been fireworks-related. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

Honolulu firefighters, paramedics and police reported a relatively slow holiday evening that in years past has kept emergency frequencies buzzing with mishaps and mayhem.

Firefighters responded to 136 alarms, down from 176 last year. But of special note was the fact that there were only six fireworks-related fires compared to 50 the previous New Year's Eve.

"We had a lot of different factors working in our favor," Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Kenison Tejada said. "Everything was wet. It was extremely slow."

No serious injuries were reported to firefighters.

There was just one house fire, at 2211 Anianiku St. in Papakolea, Tejada said. The A-frame house was vacant. Witnesses saw fireworks being thrown through windows and igniting curtains, Tejada said.

Damage was estimated at $125,000 to the structure and $125,000 to its contents.

The contents included everything that 31-year-old Shannon Kayatani owned. He had moved all his possessions into the house, but had not moved in yet.

"The Fire Department says it was fireworks-related, but not arson," Kayatani said. "But there were signs that it was intentional.

"The house is gutted. From what I heard it was a fast fire. So it was good that I wasn't there."

Firefighters were also called at 4 a.m. to help with a mauka-bound car that got stuck between two trees on an embankment along the Pali Highway, Tejada said. No injuries were reported.

A type of ordnance used by law enforcement or the military was found in Kapi'olani Park by a person walking through yesterday. Police sealed off the park and closed Paki Avenue for about an hour while investigators examined it, said officer Brian Blackwell.

Police believe the ordnance was shot off during New Year's Eve, he said.

Despite the wet weather, plenty of firecrackers made a bang.

"It was really, really smoky out there," Tejada said. "I heard some firemen say they had a lot of trouble driving around it was so smoky."

Kalihi, 'Aiea, Pearl City and Mililani all were thick with smoke, he said.

They also responded to 61 medical calls, one less than the previous year. None of them were fireworks related, Tejada said.

Paramedics responded to 109 alarms on New Year's Eve, said Donnie Gates, assistant chief of the Honolulu City & County Emergency Medical Services.

Only two of them were fireworks-related, he said, but paramedics received 43 trauma calls for fights and falls. They also responded to 52 medical calls, including an unknown amount for breathing problems related to the smoke.

Still, Gates said, the evening seemed calm overall.

"I know we were busy, but I think we were busier last year," Gates said. "I think it was a very pleasant night."

The most serious case involved a woman swimming off Waikiki at 11:45 p.m. She was taken to Straub Clinic & Hospital in critical condition. Her condition was not available today.

"She went in for a swim and had a medical condition that complicated everything," Gates said. "She had to be pulled from the water."

Police said the rain kept fireworks problems to a minimum, although officers in Kalihi said the weather put people closer together and that prompted a larger number of fights.

In Kane'ohe, police Sgt. Marie Kaneali'i-Ortiz said the fireworks crescendo was done by 12:45 a.m.

"It was nice and clear," she said. "It was very quiet. Everything was pretty much quiet. It was so much nicer."

Staff writer Suzanne Roig contributed to this report.

Reach Mike Gordon at mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8012.