Fire angers Mahelona

Associated Press

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee defensive tackle Jesse Mahelona, a 2001 Kealakehe grad from Kailua, Kona, has agreed to pay for damage to a fire engine after he got angry at seeing his condominium on fire and knocked a handrail off the truck early Sunday morning.

The off-campus condominium Mahelona shared with offensive tackle Arron Sears burned, and Mahelona lost everything he had.

Mahelona, who was named All-Southeastern Conference as a junior last season, was upset and hit the handrail hard enough to knock it off.

Instead of being charged, Mahelona agreed to pay damages estimated between $100 and $200 and apologize to firefighters. Coach Phillip Fulmer and Fire Chief Carlos Perez worked out the deal on Tuesday.

"In talking with the coach today the chief felt that Jesse was remorseful for what he did," fire department spokesman Charlie Barker said.

Mahelona was asked to write a letter of apology and visit the firefighters who responded to the fire.

Investigators determined a candle in a bedroom caused the fire.