Posted on: Thursday, July 22, 2004
Kuli'ou'ou fire ruled arson
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
A fire that heavily damaged a Kuli'ou'ou home Tuesday night was the work of an arsonist, fire investigators said yesterday.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser The single-story main portion of the home was destroyed, and a two-story addition suffered minor damage.
No one was injured in the fire, which caused about $270,000 in damage. Three men who lived at the homes were displaced by the blaze.
Because the fire caused so much damage, members of the police arson detail and fire investigation team were unable to enter the structure Tuesday night.
They returned yesterday and sifted through the ash and rubble and determined that the fire was deliberately set.
Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Emmit Kane said the fire appeared to have begun in the living room.
Police said they have a suspect, but he had not been arrested as of yesterday afternoon. Witnesses said they saw a man leaving the home with a picture frame shortly before the fire began.
Neighbor Keoni Jones said there have been problems at the home, where a man has broken windows at least twice.
Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.
The fire at 365 Kuli'ou'ou Road was reported at 6:34 p.m. and brought under control shortly before 7.
Firefighters fought a blaze Tuesday at 365 Kuli'ou'ou Road that investigators say was started by an arsonist. Police say they have a suspect, but no one had been arrested as of yesterday afternoon.
