The fire at 1652 Komo Mai Drive was reported at 8:39 a.m, was under control at 9:07 a.m. and declared extinguished at 9:15 a.m.

Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Emmit Kane said the fire appeared to start in a downstairs bedroom in the middle of the wood-frame house.

"A grandmother in her mid- to late-70s first noticed the fire and alerted her daughter and two grandchildren who were the only ones home at the time," Kane said.

He said the older woman tried to extinguish the blaze with a pot of water.

"But it had progressed to the point beyond her being able to control it," Kane said. "The thing to emphasize here is that the family did the right thing — they all got out safely and then called 911."

The woman who tried to put out the fire was treated at the scene for minor smoke inhalation and was taken to Pali Momi hospital as a precaution, Kane said.

Six fire companies and approximately 30 firefighters responded to the two-alarm blaze.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation and the Red Cross is assisting family members, Kane said.

Police open shotgun blast probe

Police have opened an attempted murder investigation against a 37-year-old man who allegedly fired a shotgun at a van about 9:15 p.m. Monday night on Kalaniana'ole Highway in Waimanalo.

The van's driver told police he made a U-turn in front of a car and that the car's driver aimed a shotgun at the van and fired a shot, flattening the van's rear tires.

The van's driver said he sped away despite the flat tires.

Moments later, a patrol officer noticed the car being driven erratically on the highway and tried to get the driver to pull over. But he took off toward the mauka area of Waimanalo with a police car in pursuit.

The car chase came to an end when the driver who was trying to evade police ran into a concrete pillar lying on the ground at Kumuhau and Waikupanaha streets. The driver ran from the area, but police found a loaded shotgun outside the car and drugs inside the car.

Police arrested a man, who they say was driving the car, on suspicion of failing to properly store a firearm, promotion of dangerous drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The van driver did not report the shooting incident until Wednesday and the police yesterday arrested the suspect for suspicion of attempted second-degree murder.

Assault case opened

Police are seeking first-degree sexual assault charges against a 46-year-old man in connection with an Feb. 21 attack on a Wai'anae woman.

The woman told police the man pulled a knife on her, took her belongings and made him drive her to a remote area where he physically and sexually assaulted her.

The suspect ran from the area after the assault while the victim reported the incident to police and was taken to the Sex Abuse Treatment Center.

The victim later identified a suspect in a photographic line-up and police arrested him yesterday.