Parked truck set on fire

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

Several hundred people were evacuated from an office building at 1601 Kapi'olani Blvd. yesterday after a pickup truck was deliberately set on fire on an eighth-floor parking deck.

The fire was reported at 9:48 a.m. The estimated 300 people who were evacuated were allowed back into the building at 11:05 a.m.

Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Kenison Tejada said patterns indicate an ignitable liquid was used to start the fire.

The fire was contained to the pickup and no injuries were reported, according to fire battalion chief Adam Enos.

William Downard, the building's engineer/manager, said a security officer questioned a man who was taking photographs of the pickup about 15 minutes before the fire started. "When approached by security, (the man) said he was taking pictures of his truck because he was planning on selling it," Downard said.

Downard planned to turn over video surveillance tapes of the parking deck to investigators.

Firefighters said the truck was parked against a wall and did not appear to be in a stall. The damage was concentrated to the interior of the older-model Toyota. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $8,000, Tejada said.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8181.