Metal doors blown into street
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
A fiery explosion blew the doors off a transformer room in Kaka'ako yesterday, damaging five cars, but causing no serious injuries.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
The Hawaiian Electric Co. transformer was in a building at 670 Auahi Street across from Fisher Hawai'i. Witnesses reported that their lights flickered at about 2 p.m. before they heard a loud boom.
Flames from an exploding transformer scarred the Coral Street side of this building across from Fisher Hawai'i. The fiery blast damaged cars and caused a power failure that temporarily shut down operations at the Handi-Cabs of the Pacific office next door.
The explosion hurled two metal doors onto Coral Street, striking a passing sport utility vehicle. The driver said that he felt one of the doors strike his vehicle, said Honolulu Fire Capt. Kenison Tejada.
"He said he stopped and felt something hit his car and he was enveloped by smoke and he could feel the heat from the flames ... on his face," Tejada said. The man was examined by ambulance personnel at the scene and released.
Luckily, Tejada said, no one was walking in the area at the time of the blast.
Peter Rosegg, HECO spokesman, said the fire may have been caused by a faulty switch that ignited oil in the transformer. But he said the cause and a damage estimate were under investigation.
Rosegg also questioned whether there actually was an explosion. He said the loud noise many people heard may have been caused by the doors of the room blowing out.
Stephanie Basque was working at Fisher Hawai'i and her Acura Legend was parked in front of the transformer doors. Her car was heavily damaged by a flying door and flames.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
"I was working and all of a sudden, complete blackout, everything shut down. No lights, no electricity," Basque said. She said she heard co-workers screaming and she ran outside, but by then it was too late to save her car.
This Dodge Durango's rear window was blown out by the force of an exploding HECO transformer on the Coral Street side of a building at 670 Auahi St. No serious injuries were reported, firefighters said, adding that it was lucky no pedestrians were near at the time.
The transformer was next to the Handi-Cabs of the Pacific business office. Lorraine Stringfield, office manager, said the fire and power failure shut down operations, temporarily stranding about 50 clients.
Handi-Cab employees set up a temporary office in a van and were busy using cell phones to call people and arrange pickups.
"We have clients that are still out at the doctor's office calling for returns, but we can't respond right away," she said. "They're handicapped clients and they depend on us for their transportation."
Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.
