2 women flee burning home in Kahala

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

Two Kahala residents, including a 92-year-old woman, escaped injury last night after a fire heavily damaged their home.

The fire at 985 Wai'ohinu Drive was reported at 9:01 p.m. by one of the home's occupants. Soon after the alarm was sounded, a fire company responding from Kaimuki reported seeing flames and smoke and a second alarm was called, said Fire Department Battalion Chief Peter Gaskell.

The blaze was brought under control at 9:16 p.m., he said. The cause of the fire and a damage estimate were under investigation last night, but Gaskell said more than half of the single-story home was destroyed.

Caryl Hendershot lives in a studio at the home and is the caregiver to homeowner Inez MacMillan, 92. Hendershot said she was getting MacMillan ready for bed when she smelled smoke.

"I looked out the back lanai and I could see smoke coming out from the other part of the house," Hendershot said. "I ran and called 911 and grabbed her and just ran. I could see flames before we got out of the front door of the house."

Hendershot said she placed MacMillan in a wheelchair and took her across the street to a neighbor's house. She said she saw another neighbor grab a garden hose and attempt to battle the fire.

"I yelled at him to get out of there because I was afraid the roof of the carport would come down on him," Hendershot said.

Gaskell credited Hendershot's quick thinking with preventing injuries or possibly worse.

"As soon as they knew there was a fire, the first thing they did was get out and leave everything, which is the proper thing to do. Get out and get ahold of us," he said.

While crews were fighting the fire, Hendershot comforted the frail MacMillan in her neighbor's driveway. Hendershot said one of MacMillan's sons lives nearby and she likely would stay with him last night.

Hendershot said she believes the fire began near her studio, which is attached to the main house. Although she feared that most of her possessions were lost, she said that wasn't her primary concern.

"She's safe and I'm safe and that is the main thing. That's the only thing that matters," she said.