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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, December 11, 2005

Fires leave two families homeless

Advertiser Staff

Two families, one in Kalihi and one in Pauoa, were homeless this weekend after fires thought to have been caused by candles destroyed their homes.

Eleven members of an extended Kalihi family were displaced early this morning after a two-alarm fire raged through a house at 1440 Houghtailing.

About six fire trucks responded, firefighters said. Two men who were home at the time escaped to a garage roof and were rescued by firefighters.

The Red Cross assisted the multigenerational family in finding temporary shelter.

Fire Capt. Emmit Kane said although the investigation is still preliminary, a candle is suspected of causing the blaze.

A candle was determined to be the cause of a Friday night fire that left a family of five homeless in Pauoa. Four teenagers fled the blaze at 2173 Booth Road.

The fire was discovered shortly before 9 p.m. It consumed most of the three-bedroom house before firefighters were able to bring it under control.

Damage was estimated at $170,000, Kane said.