One dead in Pacific Palisades house fire

By Rod Ohira and Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writers

A man was killed today in a fire that destroyed a Pacific Palisades home. It is the fourth fire death on O'ahu since Monday.

Firefighters responded to the 8:50 a.m. alarm at 2373 Anini Place and found a three-bedroom home engulfed in flames.

Three people live at the home, but only the homeowners, a couple who have lived in the house since 1966, were in the residence when the fire started, said HFD Capt. Emmit Kane.

One of the two, a woman, was taken to Straub Hospital & Clinic. Kane said she told firefighters that she spoken to her husband, Edward Keliinoi, moments before an explosion.

William Keliinoi identified the dead man as his brother, Edward Keliinoi. The body was found in the left rear bedroom of the house.

"I feel sorry. I never see him in a long time because he is kind of a hermit kind of guy," Keliinoi said.

William Keliinoi said his brother was a retired City and County refuse worker.

Witnesses told firefighters that they heard an explosion before the fire broke out. Firefighters got the call at 8:50 a.m. and extinguished the blaze by 9:49 a.m.

Kane said fire investigators were trying to fortify the house before conducting their investigation.

The Keliinois lived in a white house at the end of a cul de sac in Pacific Palisades. Damage from the fire is estimated at $200,000 to the structure and $50,000 to the contents.

The house is gutted, Kane said.

"The only thing standing is the carport," he said.

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